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About This Poem

Castle Walls

Its ghostly, desolate shell reposes atop a craggy tor,
Overlooking the restless sea on England's venerable shore!
Though its walls have withstood the ravages of countless ages,
Its name and former majesty are lost in history's pages.

What gay times must've abounded within its sturdy walls!
Sumptuous repasts with joints of meat and elegant balls!
The chase for stag and fox with the running of the hounds!
Celebrating with games and picnics on its compelling grounds!

Now, according to local lore, eerie things are seen and heard.
Scenes portrayed by phantoms of events that once occurred.
On moonlit nights a spectral guard is seen to pace its towers,
Clad in mail, armed with lance, he's heard to herald the hours!

On stormy nights as thunder crashes and the savage gale shrieks,
Lightning illumes a princess wraith, tears coursing down her cheeks.
She waves to her prince sitting astride his steed of white,
Who goes forth into battle, this, her handsome, valiant knight!

Did in this once magnificent mansion reside a royal line?
We are forever left to wonder about its calamitous decline.
If these, cold, gray, massive walls could only speak
To reveal its secrets!  But, alas, they now stand mute and bleak!

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved

Placed No. 2 in Black Eyed Susan's "If These Walls Could Talk" Contest - Sep 2012

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  1. Date: 9/21/2012 9:27:00 PM

    A belated congrats on a wonderful win, Bob! I love old buildings and always wonder about the people who once walked their halls. I enjoyed your great write! Hugs, Rhonda

  1. Date: 9/20/2012 12:16:00 PM

    Congratulations on your win Robert. Love, Carol

  1. Date: 9/20/2012 6:02:00 AM

    This poem certainly does describe the interior of those castles. This brought me back to my travels in Scotland and Ireland. Well done. Lee

  1. Date: 9/19/2012 1:35:00 AM

    Congrats on a great win in Susan's contest with your wonderful entry! wonderful imagination used in your poem.

  1. Date: 9/18/2012 3:29:00 PM

    Congrats on your winning work..Sara

  1. Date: 9/18/2012 1:08:00 PM

    Awesome write Robert! Congrats on your win! Hugs

  1. Date: 9/18/2012 11:48:00 AM

    Such secrets you hint at, and many more unglimpsed or unimagined walls that ancient can hold. Wlle done.

  1. Date: 9/18/2012 9:35:00 AM

    Yes most walls do not reveal their secrets. More's the pity. Congratulations Bob. Love, Joyce

  1. Date: 9/18/2012 8:05:00 AM

    CONGRATS BOB ON AN EXTRAORDINARY WRITE AND EXCITING WIN MY FRIEND .. SO ENJOYED .. ALWAYS A RARE TREAT TO READ U ..

  1. Date: 9/18/2012 4:09:00 AM

    robert, i like "castle walls" and it's "long meter" drop me a line. arthur c. ford,sr.,poet/editor wewuvpoetry@hotmail.com

  1. Date: 9/17/2012 9:10:00 PM

    what an awesome way to do the contest and I think it's the only one of its kind on the winner's list. congrats!

  1. Date: 9/17/2012 7:53:00 PM

    Congratulations for your win, Robert! :) hugs leonora

  1. Date: 9/17/2012 6:15:00 PM

    Wow!! Just fantastic Rob!! Congrats, you deserve this win. ONe love. Joy Wells

  1. Date: 9/17/2012 6:13:00 PM

    Such majesty and to see them all a tumble...I love castles. Congrad's on your win. Light & Love

  1. Date: 9/17/2012 12:23:00 PM

    deliciously mysterious, bob... confetti for you on your grand win!..:) huggs!

  1. Date: 9/17/2012 11:33:00 AM

    Very nice Robert!Congrats on your win in the contest.

  1. Date: 9/17/2012 10:40:00 AM

    Congratulations on your #2 win in my contest! I loved this adventure into the lives of castle walls - very entertaining

  1. Date: 9/17/2012 10:26:00 AM

    ROBERT, congratulations with your wonderful win in Susan's "If These Walls Could Talk..." contest.. have a nice day~ PD

  1. Date: 9/17/2012 10:25:00 AM

    Congratulations Robert on your terrific win xx

  1. Date: 9/7/2012 7:44:00 PM

    How British, how full of folk lore and fancy feelings of foolish fun,6ehy a frolic on a foul eve. Sorry Bob, the "f" words kind of ran away on me and I should tell you I really loved this exciting story! LUv, Elizabeth

  1. Date: 9/6/2012 7:48:00 AM

    Welcome to England, Robert, i really enjoyed this, in fact i became lost within the Castle Walls, so real your portrait of words.

  1. Date: 9/6/2012 7:46:00 AM

    Whether there is today such a palace or not, the excellent description brings forth vividly all those images from a real, royal, past..enjoyed very much! Jag

  1. Date: 9/6/2012 6:28:00 AM

    Hoping you continue to find the inspiration to write and share your always amazing poetry with us Bob. I enjoyed reading your poetry this morning. Love, Carol

  1. Date: 9/5/2012 4:57:00 PM

    The castle should consider itself fortunate if it survived the blitzkrieg of WWII. Good write with good rhyming as usual, Bob.

  1. Date: 9/5/2012 3:40:00 PM

    bob, this is fantastic! i love visiting castles whenever i can and you've really brought those ancient times to life. the language you've used here is especially beautiful - i love this poem!

  1. Date: 9/5/2012 2:47:00 PM

    I wonder if the walls would talk of love, romance, truth, betrayal, murder?

  1. Date: 9/5/2012 1:33:00 PM

    Old castle is exciting bob. My husband and I were at a castle and I would take a special photo. Got my husband to go inside barrier, whole alarm went off. Guards came running - ...... we went quietly out. Great Resurrection. Have a great Wednesday. - Oxox love Anne-Lise :)

  1. Date: 9/5/2012 1:27:00 PM

    Excellent write here you penned Robert. I see a winner here. Luv, Gail

  1. Date: 9/5/2012 12:22:00 PM

    Loved reading this Robert I don't know if you have been around an English castle but this is an excellent portrayal of one. xx

  1. Date: 9/5/2012 12:19:00 PM

    What a nostalgic write! I enjoyed the read! Cindy