Round Round

In the grounds of the roundhouse, some time after dawn,
there’s the sound of a small yet almighty machine –
Gardener Gordon’s out, mowing the circular lawn!
Pigeons watch from the poplars, their amber eyes keen.

There’s the sound of a small yet almighty machine
with a motor rotating a swift-spinning blade –
pigeons watch from the poplars, their amber eyes keen;
squirrels smile as they twirl in the neighbouring glade!

With a motor rotating a swift-spinning blade,
Gardener Gordon’s quite quick to complete his first chore;
squirrels smile as they twirl in the neighbouring glade,
while a spiralling flock of rooks calls to him: “Cor!”

Gardener Gordon’s quite quick to complete his first chore;
let’s turn on an electric ring, start making teas,
while a spiralling flock of rooks calls to him: “Cor!” –
there’ll be biscuits for all, on a plate, plain and cheese!

Let’s turn on an electric ring, start making teas;
Gardener Gordon’s out, mowing the circular lawn!
There’ll be biscuits for all, on a plate, plain and cheese,
in the grounds of the roundhouse, some time after dawn.

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Published on Snakeskin, April 2024

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As this poem makes fairly clear, the Severn Bore is a tidal surge. It occurs about 250 to 260 times per year, reaching its most impressive heights around the vernal equinoxes, when the tides are at their maximum size. These and many other fun facts, I learned from Gloucestershire County Council, which provides a factsheet here. A bore expert provides the star ratings each year.

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I experienced my first bore perhaps a couple of years after moving from Surrey to Gloucestershire with my family. Dad must have heard or read about it somewhere, and he was keen for everyone to see it. So we all bundled into the car quite early and set off! It was really very spectacular, and I was able to draw on my memories when putting together the poem. There was also some great footage on local news programmes.​​

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