Remembering Fountains Abbey

Remembering Fountains Abbey
brought a tear to my eye,
yet a smile couldn’t resist
touching my lips.
I recall the day we went,
it was early autumn;
the trees all burnished reds and coppery gold
in the weak morning sunlight,
just beginning to burn away the haze.

Seeing the majestic ruins of the abbey
rising up through the mist took away our breaths;
and then the temple of piety among that sea of arboreal splendour
dedicated to Hercules, overawed us.

In the water gardens we lunched on
crusty rolls with Cheddar cheese;
drank Beaujolais,
(because it had been on special offer at Sainsbury’s.)
We huddled close together for warmth feeling
the first hint of the approaching winter,
the cooling air full of the scents of new mown grass.

Just before we left, you bought me my teddy bear
from the Abbey gift shop, with the proud legend
proclaiming he came from Fountains Abbey
right across his silken chest.

Now he stares at me forlornly from pillows
adorning my lonely bed, I wonder…
Does he miss you too?