Ardingly Elegy

ARDINGLY ELEGY The clock tower tolls the passing of the day The bleating flock wends home neath darkening sky The Judges homeward plod their weary way And leave the world in peace at Ardingly Beyond from the madding contests’ noble strife Their preferences no longer put asunder on Reworking judgements that were given life The ghosts of jurists sit in shadowed UNDER* Across the world the living spirits go To lands deprived of custard on their pie Gone from the halls up under and below May they again return to Ardingly The faithful Leaders' bright young teams have gone Far from the English contest's hue and cry When spring once more brings us a brighter dawn May they at heart return to Ardingly Now all the shepherds and the human flock Time no more measured by the tolling clock When frosty sheen still paints the cricket field And yet the buds burst green on sylvan high May then also returned to Ardingly.