Long Devizes Poems

I met a little man up on The Green
On New Year’s Eve, and he was two foot two
With quite the reddest nose I’ve ever seen
And eyes as bright as summer skies are blue

‘What brings you...

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I’m all out for In, Boys, I’m all out for In
I’ll not consign dear Europe to the bonfire or the bin
We’ve fought too many flippin’ wars to call this thing a day
And isn’t such division...

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On the deaths of Major John Cairns Bartholomew, of Wadworthshire, and a much loved Devizes tree...

Beneath a grey and monumental sky 
In wild confetti clouds that dance in air
The blossom falls; all trees and men...

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A personal view of the Devizes Neighbourhood Plan
and the referendum on Thursday at the Town Hall

All careful plans of men may fail and fall
And falter, crumble; leaving broken stone
No reason to devise no plan at...

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A lighter view of the Devizes Neighbourhood Plan 
referendum on Thursday 17th September

My alarm clock shouts at me with noisy voice
“Wake up!  It’s Thursday and you have a choice!”
Of what to have for breakfast,...

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On the subject of road works in the Market Place, Devizes, England

Stuff’s happening in the Market Place
To really make folk cuss 
Why isn’t there a parking space
And where’s the chuffin’ bus?
The traffic lights are stuck...

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Why Danny, so cute, but elusive
Ornamental and yet unobtrusive
Preferring to stay
At the end of the day
In locations a tad more exclusive

Why Danny, you see, while there's cheese
In the pond and the voters to please
You could...

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On the opening of a one stop teddy shop in Devizes; Moonraker Bears on Sidmouth Street.  The legend of the Moonrakers relates to smugglers pretending to rake the cheese of the moon from a...

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Mells' Bells.

Not far from a little town in Somerset called Wells
there's a quiet little village, that's name is Mells
the wild garlic grows in abundance there, and stridently smells
But the peace is shattered each Sunday by...

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Written for the congregation of the church of St. John the Baptist, Devizes, England

Within a pumpkin’s hollow is a candle burning bright
We have prayed the dead to silence, we have sent them to the light...

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I am all over Wiltshire
High up on the hills
I am immune from fire
To tourists I give thrills

You can see me from afar
By plane, on foot or in a car
I am as old as time can...

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(Sir Terry Wogan and Mason McQueen take a tasty televised trip to Devizes)
 
No traffic jam when Terry came
No culinary surprise
He used his loaf and found some cheese
When munching round The Vize
He and his little...

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Inspired by the writings of Raymond John Burt...

Here speaks the magic work of Raymond John
Intrigue in reference, delight in phrase
I’m curious as to what, my friend, you’re on
That powers your pen to so the mind...

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In Devizes, during Carnival, we have a Confetti Battle...

We dance in town, as bright confetti falls
Upon our hallowed ground, we move as one
The old and young among the market stalls
All blessed by Ceres and the...

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Has Summer gone? Oh God, she was divine
Those crazy kisses, that incessant heat
Last seen by The Red Lion on the street
And off to Swindon on the 49 -
Another bus is coming, so it’s fine
That Autumn...

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I went past them tonight. There was like ten
Or maybe twelve. Few girls, but mostly boys
It's dark outside, but mild enough for men
To go out without coats on. It annoys
Some people just to see them...

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Devizes, Wiltshire; New Year's Eve

The cyclist sees, in the edge of her eye
Fireworks flash in the distant beyond
Ghostly swans on the dark of the pond
The old lights of Christmas go glittering by
The cyclist sees, in...

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I know men, young and old, from Devizes
Who are wolves in surprising disguises
Sometimes girls are as bad
But it’s often the lad
Who, for whoring, has shelves full of prizes

Pretty Trowbridge girls, all in a row
There will...

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(the bells of St.John the Baptist, Devizes, go Pete Tong)
 
Sunday, summer, church bells chiming
Ringing patterns, sounding light
Ancient forms of echo, rhyming
Complex rhythms, bounded, tight
Resounding voices throng the breeze
As tower captains keep in time
Wise bells...

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