Severn Journey

Flow pure to Llanidloes where grayling and trout,
Snap at the mayfly once winter be out,
Thence on to Newtown gathering pace,
Where dart in clear waters the minnow and dace.

Kiss ancient Welshpool, bid Cymru farewell,
Run swift through the fords where fingerlings dwell,
Course through the valley ‘neath Salops proud hills,
Blood of the soil and strength of the mills.

Nurture the willow, the sedge and the briar,
To Shrewsbury now twixt castle and spire,
Twin bridges,Gay Meadow and historic school,
And wily old chub patrol dappled pool.

Soon Buildwas Abbey, then Ironbridge Gorge,
Where first Thomas Telford set bellow and forge,
Industrial cradle, such tribute to man,
Cross there the Severn, world’s first iron span.

Hence to Bridgnorth, steam engine with coach,
So patient the angler for barbel and roach,
But restless the Severn to rock of renown,
Sentinel stands for quaint Bewdley town.

Onward to Stourport with parkland and fair,
Memories of childhood so happy spent there,
Wide canal basin, gateway to the sea,
Where ghosts of great tankers moan by the quay.

Now Worcester Cathedral reflect from on high,
On pastoral waters as longboat chugs by,
Close by stands pavillion amd hallowed green field,
Owzat? goes the cry, and batsman must yield.

Below Diglis weir where salmon stair runs,
Little Teme’s bank into Severn succombs,
Now steep’ning and deep’ning through Upton by lea,
Imperious sweeping to Tewkwesbury.

Will Shakespeares Avon at once now devoured,
Proud Norman Abbey, steepled and towered,
Look down on the weir, where end tidal rage,
Soft whisper the Severn, come now of age.

Now flounder and shad, borne on tidal stream,
Impervious swim next pike, eel and bream,
And rushing, sweep forth the great Severn bore,
Till Tewkesbury weir slams shut the door.

Broad swathe through to Gloucester, strong pull the tides,
Treachery and venom the Severn’s new brides,
Churning and swirling, awesome, and yet,
Tiny brave elver evades trappers net.

‘Neath bridge suspended from bright braided steel,
Saltwater laps at fishing smacks keel,
On wing wheels the seagull, and racous she mocks,
Tethered great ships in Avonmouth docks.

Once embryo stream on hillside in Wales,
Meander through pasture and green English dales,
By wild tumbling waters and boulders there strewn,
Scoured deep from the earth your course was thus hewn.

Now dark winter spate, now summer’s new gown,
Through hamlet and city and village and town,
To estuary wide from whence you began,
Give life to the land and succour to man.