WAREHAM PASTIMES
When coach and horses rode through wareham town the lady bankes was for the crown the corfe castle it stood on yonder hill whilst stoborough village was just a mile from the old mad millers mill the high walls of green that circled the town then all the farmers gathered around
In east street market stalls and sells the country yokels drank of the ales from wareham quay the ship it sailed with gold and bullion tea and whales the samways thatch at bestwall stood where young girls dreamt of motherhood the river frome and redcliffe ridge where robbers strode and varmints hid
Where zunner boys did stones and skim the local volks told tales of these happenings the road to swanage was fast and free where visitors dropped in for tea
Nearby at Poole the brownsea boys the pirate Gulliver once did employ at kinson village and durdle door the round heads of Cromwell once did explore
Though wareham streets still stands today nearby the barns of thatchy hay where corn market stalls did sell their wares whilst the pretty gals just stood and stared.
My Dorset
The castle of adventure high upon the hill the quiet little village where is the flowing rivers mill
the tumbling heather meadows the grassy purbeck tracks the wayward traveler returns a rucksack on his back
The high point oer the valley the twinkling summer nights the seaside and the meadows the stones of purbeck white
The harbor and the mainland the pottery and the park where the dolphins swims at daybreak at the singing of the lark
Its the Hardy blooming country where the Barnes tall statue stands where dorsets tolpuddle martyrs once formed a loyal band where john the artist painted gypsies o so grand
Theres the little commonwealth shaftesbury school i view the camp where Lawrence rode
Near the liitle meadow haystacks herein lived the wareham miller mad the markets and the country folk the squires and granddad
By the lady wimborne cottage the dairies sold their milk by the cowsheds and the rivers where the wandering minstrels made their sounds neath grassed walls around the olde wareham town
Soft down beneath your head a flower for your pretty hand garlands for your bed a rose to plant beneath the bough and a kiss beneath the leaves its a Dorset life for me.
WARBLERS SONG
Tuesday morning the sun is waiting to shine on you As the birds sing us a melody or two When morning rushes in to stay To watch the sky of further days
For its to come that summer breeze Amongst the budding willow trees The warbler sings his high pitch song For the hen bird all day long.
A DORSET TOWN
In a durzet town where i was born the dolphins played at break of dawn the cockerel's crowed and the cuckoos cried to be let out the gate the zunners played at the seas first tide and was never late
The poet he did write a rhyme and Augustus drew the gypsies fine old hardy he wrote a tale or two and Barnes wore fancy buckled shoes
The clock it chimed out the hour the miller mad fished by the stour the durdle door was open wide and the fishermen came in by the tide
The park was given by a lady guest and blyton wrote adventures blessed the pirates rode on silver bikes and Freddie mixed with lords and tykes
Stevenson lodged above the bay and we went to market on Thursday stainer's was a cobbler till today and castles and kings rode the gypsy way the fair lodged on alder hills whit Saturdays and zunners played amongst the hay.
AS A BOY
As a boy on the canford heath i broke hearts and teeth i climbed the pines and silver birch the heath was my church
the Manning's was my sweet domain roses climbing daisy chains
Acorns and fir cones opened wide grassy banks and water springs to ride heather dew and furze bush branch chimney stack and crickets dance
Hares a leaping on the moor cattle grazing goldfinch robin and bumble bees weeping willow and tall oak trees what a boyhood life for me just across from alderney.
BIRD MAN OF DORSET
The bird man of durzet knew every bird call knew every grass tracks and every tree tall
He could whistle a tune and serenade the day he was born in the country on a warm zummers day
The wind it was whistling and the sky it was blue the parish was longham and his home was in Poole
He was up with the sun and down with the owl he knew every bird and many a fowl
He carried a musket and a brown haversack and a blackbird alighted there on his back
His melody hummed and his chorus was rich he traveled the heather aside of the ditch
Across worgret manor and down to woolbridge he painted the swans there and then walked on to ridge
He whistled a song there on the hill of Arne then traveled on to the stoborough village farm
The songbirds were chirping and the hay it was low the stacks were a bundled and it was all quite a show
So he lay on the turf on the top of creech burrow and gazed at the view for many an hour.
COME TO POOLE
The dolphin centre high street bazaar olde world fair bumper cars
Pirates speedway tower park canford heath birds wee train in the park
Old town quay with grockels in tow cockles and eels and art centre show
Lord wimborne tavern nelson and the ship hamworthy bridge alder hill ridge
Ashley road shops baiter point views sandbanks and studland what a great place is Poole
Canford cliffs Compton gardens with acres to view Poole railway station town museum and more come down to Poole what you waiting for sandy clean beaches safe tides too
Beautiful scenery of brownsea isle isle of wight purbeck hills old harry in sight come to Poole stay for the night.
WAREHAM ON A SUNDAY
The lady st Mary church bells do chime early morn tis half past nine to honour him with bread and wine in Wareham on a Sunday
Alongside the river runs and winds to redcliffes ridge with rushes tall and swans regale the winding narrow footpath it turns and twists along alongside stoboroughs fields and meadow mists here where tis said the first cuckoo is let out in may herald the spring with hares a leaping in the hay whilst local zunners run and play
Where young rabbits do skip amongst the lambs high up on grassy slopes of the ridge highway whilst grokel tourists sleep on sound in their modern caravans and the farmer samways eats his egg and bacon this is wareham on a Sunday.
WAREHAM ON MARKET DAY
Come to warehams market place on a sunny summer thursday afternoon hear the jokes and banter of hawkers selling their wares plus sheets and spoons watch the auction of cattle in the concreted floor space within the high iron bars surround there an electioneering sports a white coat sitting on a three legged chair
In a galvanised shed with little room to move little rabbits hang grey and gutted so uncouth tied so tight on string in line whilst flies aplenty seek refuge in their sad eyes.
Tiny bantam cockeral run free pecking at the corn treading hens on wings who look fore-lorn All a running through the very many scattered stalls
Where rabbits hutches lie nigh and caged songbirds are so pensing though their song delights the crowds of people sauntering an goldfinch songbirds sing out their trill to their offspring
The old town hall clock in the square chimes out the hour on a sunny afternoon.
DORSET DAYS
The patriots dance beneath the wareham walls where frome and piddle run and play where samways plays his fiddle the sun it smiles on bestwalls crew like any other day whilst zunners laugh and frolic gals roll in the hay
Oh diddle diddle rode the hills across the purbecks downs we all met up on market day i bought a pig for half a crown
where grass grows tall where swans regale ride upon the tide i spied my love that night in June though lies i cant abide
The masters of the spinning wheels spun their simple yarn whilst boys and girls danced at dawn down upon the farm
The crows they squawked and lambs did play upon the hillside proud the forests walks were rich in deer though natures voice was loud
The cuckoo sang its funny rhyme where stobough meadows lie the cows were rich in cowslips then that sunny summers day
The church of st Mary's rang its bells so rich in tone i stood upon the corfe hill road a poet all alone.
WAREHAM ON SUNDAYS
The lady st Mary church bells do chime early morn tis half past nine to honour him with bread and wine in Wareham on a Sunday
Alongside the river runs and winds to redcliffes ridge with rushes tall and swans regale
The winding narrow footpath it turns and twists along alongside stoboroughs fields and meadow mists here where tis said the first cuckoo is let out in may herald the spring with hares a leaping in the hay whilst local zunners run and play
Where young rabbits do skip amongst the lambs high up on grassy slopes of the ridge highway whilst grokel tourists sleep on sound in their modern caravans and the farmer samways eats his egg and bacon this is wareham on a Sunday.
Dorset journeys
The sandpits games of yesterdays gave way to enterprise they say. a fine galleon sailed into durdle door where the waves did splash upon the shores
Where nearby lulworth cove gave pirates bold secret caves to hide their treasure troves in wool bridge manor by egdon heath thats where local zunners cut their teeth
On bere regis road the headless woman lived near wareham forests where deer hid at Poole bay by the lord nelsons inn Gulliver the pirate went a courting
At Lilliput sands he sailed away with contraband of tea almost every day at least thats what the locals do say
To alderney manor studio Augustus john the artist on Gypsy's pony rode to kinsons Pelham's house where Gulliver lived there they shared the yarns with jolly roger Sid
The Poole pirates are in the bay when lady wishbone gave the canford kids a holiday oh twas quite a durzet day when the heather grew on stud-land bay
At swanage the secret seven met the famous five when Enid blyton was so young and wise she wrote great kiddies tales as her her enterprise she made the laughter in their eyes
Baden Powell formed the scouts at brownsea land listen to the salvation army band in days of yesterday and more Thomas hardy wrote of Tess on egdon moor so folks do come to Poole to find out more.
SUMMERS DAY IN WAREHAM
On wareham bridge one summers day the lads were gathered for water play the river it was deep and wide with grassy banks on other redcliffes side
The boats were few and the swans were proud and the local fair drew many a crowd
The lady st Marys bells did chime and old granary was selling wine the vicar he was drunk like newt and the Bobby's bell went toot toot toot
The farmers gathered on the quay and heather sat along sides me on stoborough green the lassies danced and Ned and Mel had their romance
The sandpit's band played many a fine tune and we stood up late till twas full moon.
THE CUCKOO
Today they'll let out the cuckoo from a field in stoborough village green he will then go a wandering build no nest or make no friendship just annoy us on his way just say cuckoo cuckoo first day of springs today
Shes a cheerful little chappie though she lays in others nests she lays his eggs there like there the very best takes up all the leg room then eats up all their grub then when he wants more room kicks em out the tub
Hes coming soon to your way you can hear him if you try hes fat and very lazy just says cuckoo cuckoo as he flys swiftly by.
| NEWTOWN DAY
I remember new town when i was just a kid sherbet dabs after breakfast with liquorice on the lid i remember the old school bell the playground where we played the days seemed cold and long then in my childhood days
I remember the sea view that walk upon the hill with coney's falling to the ground and squirrels a running still i recall the little church with bell that rang each morn the number 8 school bus and picnics on the lawn
I recall those simple days with dobbin on the heath the walks across to Waterloo and the wide commons where we cut our teeth old sankey ward the clay pits man and old buller archer too where knotty built his caravans next to Trent's cars scrapyard too
Those rides up to the regal we all called up on hill the old brown rossmore bus i hear its running still the old shoulder of mutton pub where only few could stand the Albion where they played shove halfpenny when life was simply grand
The kids all played at conkers then and most were diddy kye i ran around upon the heaths or at the fairgrounds shies the gypsies roamed the heaths so free and spun a tale or two i chased the gals around a lot and tied my laces too
Some kids went to salvation hall to see Nativity's i spent nights with granfer reg inside hamworthy engineering sites n sprees we ate bread n cheese and chased with dogs a ferrite on the run with strings of rabbits all in line up afore the morning sun
The school truant waterman he rode a bike with bell you could see him coming down the lane n taste like a dam foul smell the roads were quieter those days and there was no TV the gals picked flowers on the heath and we had bread n jelly for our tea
Some kids played flick cards every day or marbles on the mac you could buy sweets for just half pence or take a high rise slide the trees were tall and fine those days and we could climb them true there was no silly strangers then and no foolish health and safety rules.
ON CANFORD HEATH
Two miles from wimborne town was canford manor school where lord and lady wimborne lived across the heath from Poole
where Churchill came to visit for they were his family and the king of England also came traveling in carriages of gold it said that he threw coins to newtown kids at least thats what I'm told cause they were good as gold
It was at canford magna its name was written in the book the history books tell it you just gotta look
There were lodges on the heath that time and rabbits by the score then the years past and Britain was at war
Granfer rogers and his family built brickyard's on the moor the Luftwaffe bombed the heath that time they mistook the brickyard for holton heath near warehams door where ammunition was made this caused much grief
There were foxes warren upon the hills and chickens on the farms but granfer had his six barrel and lots of fancy new alarms
The Gypsy's sites were scattered around though some were diddy coy there was lots of open country then so good for girls and boys
flowers grew wild and free at hand with pine tree and the birch heather stretched across the land with poppies and sweet flowers young girls they gathered baskets young men they ferreted around the hills
Old men they smoked their pipes canford was beautiful then before the cars and trikes.
A LOOK AT WAREHAM
There were cobbled streets in wareham town lots of pubs but not a rose and crown there were sandpit's and saw pits too plus Carey camp to take kids to
On the quay we swam and fished where the river frome swans did kiss there were walks up winding tracks to redcliffes ridge across from stoboroughs farms and markets bids
The clock it struck upon the hour there where the old granary did turn the flour the mad miller lived by warehams walls where lizards swarmed and yokels talked
nearby the town where Lawrence stone was laid a tribute to his moreton grave the hardy town where farmers talked where deer once ran and forests walkk
As a child we chased the girls across those downs and wareham walls the bestwall tracks and lundigo the wareham fair and the country show
Here kings rode to corfe each day the castle on the hills still there today the road to swanage where blyton lived the purbeck isle and the tales the yokels bid
Old wareham town was in doomsday book its charms alive still just take a look.
BESSIE
I met her at wool lane in the spring when boughs did blossom an blackbirds did sing
She was up for it ready to go she wore a bonnet her bum was bare so i took her to a show down at wareham fair
I paraded her upon the green oh twas a pleasant sunny scene there were farmers there squires and more they said what are ya asking for er
Farmer samways he paid ten bob i said twould do was just the job he took her home to his new farm near Poole
That's where she lives with Bert his boar i never seen such a fat sow since or before than Bessie the pig there Ive said it all.
BLYTONS DORSET
I recall the secret seven and the famous five those blyton stories kept me alive tales of caves and treasure troves maps and walks above lulworh cove
The sandy shores of sandbanks downs the stud-land beach and the dunes so white the rocky cliffs of Dorset towns the hilly walks o'er purbecks mounds
The secret tunnels that we took the castle gates at corfe the ways we took the rambling countryside and towns the bikes and dogs the kings and crowns
The englishness of swanage beach the view of Wessex just outta reach the grassy meadows where we played the punch n Judy shows on our summer holidays.
BROWNSEA ISLAND BOYS
I took a trip to brownsea island just a ride out from Poole bay where baden Powell created the scouts movement one fine day with just 10 public school boys plus ten boys from Poole town he led the first scout camp at a cost of less than half a crown
On brownsea was a hermit in the 7th century he lit fires to warn boats of danger perils on the sea now in august this year we all celebrate the scouts 100th year anniversary took a trip to brownsea island to see the pheasants on display the red squirrels running freely the cockles in the bay
The sandbanks at Poole quayside see all the grockells here to stay the boats are in Poole harbor on such a lovely summers day see the camps all on the island the zunners all at play.
COMMERCIAL SEASIDE
Seaside town roadside cafes boats in the bay seagulls a squawking bracing new day
Kids on holiday sand and the pebbles cut bitter toes crabs in the rocks floss on your clothes
Grockles aplenty cockles galore winkles and eels Sand on the shore
Surf on the tide ships on the sail sandbanks and ferries seaweed and cockleshells galore
Punch in a stall tents and towels guys and gals holiday crowds everything gaudy everything loud.
OLD KINSON
Did you know old kinson afore there was west Howe did you know it stretched to sea view on the edge of Poole somehow
Did you know it was a wild desolate place where gypsies rode on horseback granfer knew his place
Did you know it was a village where Gulliver ran free did you know it kinson then was just pure history
Did you know about the coopers and the whites who made the pipes and clay did you know about the king who visited lady wimborne one day
Did you know about the family of guests the artist at the alderney manor bet now you are impressed
Did you know about the crutchers the stables and the tanner did you know about old kinson afore newtown was born
Did you know about st Andrew's it was the parish afore Poole that stainer's was a cobbler who mended all the shoes
Did you know about the pottery did you know about the heath did you know about Bourne bottom or even cuckoo woods
Did you know about old kinson the stocks upon the green the round table it was at canford school just across from Poole the bear cross was just a bare road across
The rhododendrons bushes that stretched to Waterloo the Manning's heath farmland and rogers brickyard too the Slade's farm at Columbia was in kinson too
Did you know its mentioned in the doomsday its famous down in Poole famous people came to visit or as they traveled through
Did you know about old kinson before the Bennett's family crew all the gypsy sites to Poole their caravans scattered throughout wallisdown Where the rabbits ran so freely then upon the pretty heather down
did you know old kinson before the caravans when knotty wasn't born did you know the Stanley's did you know their names did you know the gillinghams here we go again
Did you know old kinson when it was just old gravel n sandy tracks afore john Augustus painted Mary gear so nude in the sack
Did you know about the lodges on the hills of canford heath did you know that's where i cut my teeth.
DORSET
Its a long walk back to Dorset past the good ole Hampshire trails through the Devon countryside down the somerset divide
The winding tracks of heather the wispy trails of grass the haystacks and the meadows the swallows which fly past
The landscapes of the artists etched out in hazy morning sun in early morning sunrise of a journey just begun
Around little thatched roofed cottages wild roses twisted thorns sweet apples kissed in scarlet nectar of the bee cider apple scrumpy rugged stoned rocky cliffs around the sea
The castle on the hillside oer purbecks twisted dales the sweetest scents of heather that ever man did smell the green lanscape life of swanages greatest tales the highest points whilst walking oer rugged purbecks views and the whisper of the talking winds that always follows you
The inn where coach and horses are all restful in the sun below the tall wide great oak tree where once the smugglers ran its the talk of the local yeomen farmers one and all arrayed in finest clothing like lords out of the past all gathered around with all manner of courtesies and flasks watching others a dancing in Morris men regale breathing in the aromatic fragrance of heathers first dawns smell
Its a long walk back to Durzet you An i mus be on my way back to my homelands tracks and trails through the commons heathered bound with treasures stored in heaven and love in Durzet found.
Dorset trails
I walked the roads of dorset when i lived at Carey camp i knew the durzet country i didn't need no map or lamp
I strolled the hills of the purbecks climbed the creech burrows highest point ambled through the meadows the ranges at lulworth where they say there's hippies hidden joints
Could tell ya many a story about olde wareham town the mickey monkey on the quayside the swans belong to the crown
The bell ringing i did at st Marys the wrestling ring at weymouth town swanage steam railways a ride for half a crown
The grockels at the seaside the mermaids at Poole bay the little cottage of hardy the clouds hill of old shaw on the way
The garrison at bovy the sandbanks sandy shores the commons of old kinson the egdon heather moors
The lodge hills up to ferndown the gals out at west moors the fairgrounds back of Poole harbor the lady bankes of corfe
The castle of blytons adventures the cherries soccer's hallowed turf the Dorchester museum the maids castle with no stone
The arched doorway to the seaside the lulworth rocky shore n home the children playing chase the common country laws
The wool bridge manor sanctuary the walks up to Arne and ridge the rooks and the many bites of midge
The park at Poole where a little train still runs the meadows and the family of Barnes the Bere regis road to Dorset town
The jolly roger ships the ship n willet arms n crown the speedway and the circus tops the pleasant country rides the singing of the warbler birds the lapping of the tides
Twas a pleasant scene my dears with children by the score we walked the Dorset country then next week there was more- children.
SEA VIEW DAYS
I took a trip to up on hill where one could see the view of Poole so still Where pines grew tall and cones were rich where the banks where steep and the lizards squirmed in and out the ditch
The school bell rang in woods of green where children ran and lovers dreamed high up on top of constitution hill where the birds did soar and time stood still
I looked down to ole newtown lands where the co op and Wesleyan looked so grand where all SIDS transport lorries stood in line you could hear the work sirens telling the times
The old water tower stood in sight with Phillips quarry's and heaths delights the coal man called and fish man too from ringwood road by stainer's shoes
Where squirrel ls did chase and bird did sing then the cuckoo surprised us every spring there were orchards rich in sweet delight where zunners scrumped and Stanley's did fight
Where bus stop stands next to the loos at the roundabout top of sea view.
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The durzet baird http://www.poetrypoem.com/thedurzetbaird
DORSET ATTRACTIONS
The following are links to Dorset attractions websites
CANFORD PARK http://www.canfordpark.com/cparena.html
BROWNSEA THEATRE http://www.brownsea-theatre.co.uk/home.aspx
BIC BOURNEMOUTH
THE BLUE POOL http://www.bluepooltearooms.co.uk/
MOORS VALLEY COUNTRY PARK http://www.moors-valley.co.uk/
ADVENTURE WONDERLAND http://www.adventurewonderland.co.uk/
CLOUDS HILL LAWRENCE OF ARABIA COTTAGE http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-cloudshill.htm
DORSET LIFE
Long island treasure
Their selling long island where Stevenson wrote where Jim lad went sailing within the big boat
They've put up the signs there its all plain to see where silver wore long johns then sailed out to sea
They've flown all the flags there the union jack too now there's only the jolly roger as we sail out from Poole
The harbor lights call us whilst theirs sleep in your eyes but if you want adventure don't be surprised
Its bolt down the hatch let the cannons once more roar as the battle is on for another sea war
There's brownsea and white there's pirates at bay there's cockle shell heroes every new day
So lets fly the flag boys cutlass at hand its a life on the waves for just half a grand
Their selling long island just off poole bay they've offered a million i heard someone say.
| Kinson as it twer
The old school once stood upon the present village green whilst wickets fell nearby on the local scene
Two master batsman went to war in France Reverend Sharpe oversaw it all perchance
Gulliver had property at west moors and near brooks lane too he was such a well respected gentleman n smuggler throughout Poole
Had pubs at longham and kinsons Howe's where old burial grounds and farms abound
Kids collected chestnuts from pelhams each fall where stream did flow under the old millhams stone wall
A tulip tree was gifted from Newfoundland folk it travelled from Michigan to pelhams house village greens remote
A gentleman's handshake was agreed and swore pelhams to be used for common folks and poor
Kinson remained in Poole just prior to nineteen thirty two twas all part of great heath-lands great canford domain near Poole
Where chestnuts grew amongst twisting country lanes Once the kaiser fell into st Andrews old bridge stream saved by local boys oh what a scream
He'd just returned from visiting lady wimborne Churchill's aunt at canford lodge fine estate home of deer and stout
Oh how this story got about.
MY DORSET POETRY PAGE THREE
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