The Norfolk Church

Disturbed Rooks cawing,
Settle once more in twisted branches
on a hedge-bound Oak

The church tower, a gaunt finger
pointing accusingly to
the lowering Fen skies

The apse, open to the rain
with windows stained by age
Recalls the passing of
men and seagulls
Who followed the plough

Remembers the villagers
Once so many – That their singing
Warmed the very stones
and celebrated many a Sunday
as the Parson preached
the way to live one’s life

The centrepiece of life then
but of a village no longer

Abandoned, along with the land
as the call of the factory,
the dreams of fortune,
drew the young men away
to new hard labours

Denuded of festival
as the harvest was mechanised
Horse for tractor exchanged

So now forgotten
amidst long untended graves
only those called to the anti-Christ
hold tryst here now

The church stands
A reminder of lost community
A lost way of life
De-Consecrated
Defiled

Haywain in Shammer, Norfolk, 1935 – photo by Richard Mark Johnson

Martin Addison 02/11/2012

6 responses to “The Norfolk Church”

Patti Kuche

November 4, 2012 at 12:17 am

Wonderful words to the lost idyll Martin . . .

Reply
1. 2e0mca
  
  November 4, 2012 at 8:42 am
  
  Thanks Patti 🙂
  
  Reply
Tony McGurk

November 4, 2012 at 1:58 am

Lovely sentiments to the good old days.Modernisation ain’t always such a good thing

Reply
1. 2e0mca
  
  November 4, 2012 at 8:43 am
  
  Thanks Tony 🙂 In areas like Norfolk it took the people from the land and caused the disappearance of whole communities. Most of Norfolk’s churches seem to be way too large for the communities that they serve until you realise how much greater the population was before the first world war.
  
  Reply
spilledinkguy

November 5, 2012 at 5:58 pm

Just got back from visiting my family in rural ND…
your piece reminds me very much of that area where I grew-up and its history, too Martin…

Reply
1. 2e0mca
  
  November 5, 2012 at 6:18 pm
  
  I guess mechanisation of farming was devastating for communities in the US too Bob 😦 hope you had a good time 🙂
  
  Reply