NORTH DALTON
I LOVE THE OLD CHURCH ON THE HILL,
MIDST PRIMROSE SWEET AND DAFFODIL,
THE COPPERBEECH – THE OLD GREY TOWER,
THE CRACKED OLD BELL, AND THE CREAKING DOOR.
I LOVE THE OLD SCHOOL IN THE “SQUARE”,
ITS BELL NOW SILENT – HANGING THERE,
WHERE TRAVELLERS TAKE THEIR SCONES AND TEA,
IN COUNTRYSIDE TRANQUILITY.
I LOVE TO SAUNTER UP THE “WALK”
(IN DAYTIME ONLY – NOT IN DARK),
THERE CHAT WITH FRIENDS ‘NEATH SHADY TREES,
IN NATURE’S CALM SERENITY.
I LOVE THE ISLAND AND THE POND,
WHERE DUCKS, AND DUCKLINGS, ALL RESPOND
TO CHILDREN’S BREAD AND EXCITED CRIES,
A TRULY RURAL PARADISE
BUT MOST OF ALL I LOVE THE FOLK
WHO, WITH QUIET WORDS AND FRIENDLY JOKE,
WITH HELPING HANDS, AND GENTLE SMILE,
MAKE VILLAGE LIFE SO WORTH WHILE.
TED DUFFILL