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Tom Cunningham - Premium Member

Notes About The Poem

Picture credit- angletopia.net

In ad 122 The Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered a defensive wall to be built across the northern frontier of the Roman empire, it took six years to construct and was nearly eighty miles long .

It ran from one side of Brittania (England) to the other, the wall included watch towers and

forts .

It stood for nearly three hundred years as a line of defence and when Rome fell people used the stones for house building .

Much of it still remains and is a tourist attraction.

The reason it was built is because the Picts in the north were a formidable force and the rough terrain made it impossible for the Roman army to fight the way they were trained to do.

Vallum Hadriani


              Hadrian's wall
        Stood proud it was the empire's pride 
      The Picts were a thorn renowned for their gall
        So Rome built a divide
  With watchtowers and forts it kept the Picts at bay
  Rome couldn't defeat them, it was the only way
    Long sections of it stand today
  When the empire crumbled so did Hadrian's wall.





Written 12th June 2019
For writing challenge, June 2019, Crumbling Rhyme Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Dear Heart.

Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2019

englandsoldierrhyme

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Constance La France

June 30, 2019 at 6:37 PM

Tom congratulations on your win in my writing challenge with this wonderful write and sorry for my delay in visiting ~

July 1, 2019 at 4:58 AM

Thanks Constance, no apology needed, I enjoyed this new form, quite a challenge, thank you for my placement and for hosting, greetings from Turkey. Tom

June 30, 2019 at 6:29 PM

I've always love your historical writes Tom, congrats on your win:-) hugs jan xx

July 1, 2019 at 4:55 AM

Thank you Jan, its on my to visit list, it was a magnificent piece of work they done. Tom

June 25, 2019 at 9:41 PM

I'm pleased to return with congratulations for your wonderful win with this exceptional poem, Tom. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

June 26, 2019 at 1:39 AM

Thank you very much for your return visit Susan. I hope you are wel. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

June 25, 2019 at 11:56 AM

Congrats on your well deserved win, Tom

June 26, 2019 at 1:31 AM

Thank you very much Andrea, hope you got all your sorting out done. Tom.

Jennifer Proxenos

June 15, 2019 at 1:39 AM

Lovely piece of history Of History here Tom, a thoroughly enjoyable poem and the write up was very interesting and informative for us to follow your poem - well done, another gem. Hugs, Jennifer.

June 15, 2019 at 3:31 AM

Thank you Jennifer, a fascinating culture although they had little regard for human life. Glad you liked it. Tom.

June 13, 2019 at 6:55 PM

Hello Tom … you've done well putting a slant on history in a poetic form on such few lines. Not easy, so well done Tom - Lindsay

June 15, 2019 at 3:27 AM

Thanks Lindsay, Roman history has always facinated me. Tom

June 12, 2019 at 9:34 PM

Perfectly penned, Tom. Excellent! And I'll just bet you that neither Nancy of Pelosi-Land and Chuck of Schumer-Manse said boo about that wall back then!! :) gw

June 13, 2019 at 1:49 AM

Haha The less said the better if they wanted to stay alive lol. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

June 12, 2019 at 6:48 PM

what an interesting way you chose to do the crumbling theme. WELL done, Tom!

June 13, 2019 at 1:47 AM

Thank you very much Andrea, these new forms are fun to do and sometimes challenging

June 12, 2019 at 6:19 PM

Your smooth and captivating poem is framed beautifully in Dear Heart’s poetry form. I enjoyed your historical note as well, Tom. Best wishes for a win and warmest wishes for you.. ~Susan

June 13, 2019 at 1:46 AM

Thank you very much Susan, I'm happy that you liked it, I hope you are well. Tom

Gordon Mcconnell

June 12, 2019 at 3:30 PM

You are excellent at historical pieces Tom, this is really fine write indeed. Blessings, Gordon

June 12, 2019 at 3:57 PM

Thank you very much Gordon, hope you're well. Tom.

Panagiota Romios

June 12, 2019 at 2:21 PM

You are a master at this. Well done, my friend and my best wishes go with you,, Panagiota. xomo

June 12, 2019 at 3:56 PM

Thank you Panagiota, glad you liked it. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen

June 12, 2019 at 1:09 PM

- Excellent written, Tom - A wall built of stone ... said to mean: enemies - Best wishes in the contest :) - (E-mail to you) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

June 12, 2019 at 1:42 PM

Thank you Anne, it was quite a feat in the day. Built by the Roman army, they were glad of the work because there wasn't much else to do, but 80.miles long, with no cranes' or bulldozers, they'd struggle to do that today. Tom

June 12, 2019 at 10:26 AM

Great warriors from the Kingdom of Alba...Romans had no chance in Hilly country...At least they used the stones for houses...All the best Tom

June 12, 2019 at 12:09 PM

Thank you Arturo, like you saw their fighting skills on a level battlefield were unbeatable but hilly terrain was were they fell down, the 13th legion went north of the wall and were never seen again. Tom.

June 12, 2019 at 9:40 AM

Gosh Tom, this really is amazing, with so much history and so cleverly written, you will be right at the top with this one for sure! With kindest thoughts Ann xx

June 12, 2019 at 12:06 PM

Thank you Ann, these contests do challenge your muse for sure. Heatwave on the way but don't hold your breath lol Tom

June 12, 2019 at 8:25 AM

What an appropriate theme you chose for crumbling rhyme poetry..a crumbled empire. I like the way you reach back..and bring forth the historic perspective..well done, Tom.

June 12, 2019 at 12:03 PM

Thanks Vijay , glad you liked it. Tom

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