to hold this burning wish to see
the great church spire in Salisbury?
I hear it is the tallest spire
(we have no spire in Russia higher!)
I’ll go all the way to Wilt-Shire.
But sadly I have little time
and doubt I’ll have enough to climb
the spire (they say the view is fine).
Indeed, if I can only see
it from a distance that may be
enough - I so love Salisbury!
My Great Uncle Stalagmite
used to read to me each night
by smoky yellow Moscow light:
“England’s Great Churches And Their Spires”
instilling in me this desire
that sets my heart and brain on fire
(much like a dose of Novichok
or a red hot bullet from a Glock...)
Oh - is that the time? Just seen the clock!
Must go, things to do, plans to hatch
- just leave the front door on the latch
but mind the handle - who knows what you’ll catch...
© Marc Woodward
Marc Woodward lives in rural Devon and has been published in a number of magazines and websites including The Poetry Society, The Guardian, Ink Sweat and Tears, The Broadsheet, Forward Press, Otter etc. He blogs at: http://marcwoodwardpoetry.blogspot.co.uk
