I thought this month a poem might be the best solution to the problem of what to write in these difficult and disrupted times. Here’s a poem by Thomas Hardy that touches on the ancient and the personal, through a memory of the Roman road of his childhood landscape.
The Roman Road
The Roman Road runs straight and bare
As the pale parting-line in hair
Across the heath. And thoughtful men
Contrast its days of Now and Then,
And delve, and measure, and compare;
Visioning on the vacant air
Helmed legionaries, who proudly rear
The Eagle, as they pace again
The Roman Road.
But no tall brass-helmed legionnaire
Haunts it for me. Uprises there
A mother’s form upon my ken,
Guiding my infant steps, as when
We walked that ancient thoroughfare,
The Roman Road.
Suggestions for other poems on the theme of archaeology would be very welcome!
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The Rolling English Road (Chesterton) as a contrast to Roman roads?
Thanks Margaret. I didn’t know that poem. Perhaps next month…
Thank you Caroline, we really enjoyed the Roman Road poem by Hardy – surprising!
Glad you enjoyed it !
Thank you a beautiful photo, tumbling walls and rampant vegetation followed by that poignant Hardy poem inspired.