On preparing to leave for the UK

[Leanne]

Yours are the shores that childhood built
from Toyland to the Old Mill, Smugglers Top
to the Enchanted Wood. Somewhere between
seven and fourteen, castles grew over the fairy rings
and witches hunted kings to Ynis Witrin. Later,
druids sang to flame and forest as three goddesses
tripped over hearth and heather. There, together,
yet still apart: in mountain mist, in salmon streams,
there lies my heart.

[LorettaYoung]

Your love of UK is very palpable and shown: very enchanting; wish I knew some of the legend! Best, Loretta

[Erthona]

I like the Peter Pan reference as that was my first exposure to British literature (disregarding the Nursery Rhymes). It is nice to grow up with the magic that such tales open up. When I was six, a girl in Peter Pan borrowed my hatchet as she was one of the "injuns". As a result my mother took me to see the play, and so I could see my hatchet. I have always thought that Peter Pan was the last great archetypes to surface since King Arthur. I had the sound track on a record which I played over and over.

Happy Trails

Dale

[just mercedes]

I grew up with the same books and stories - I loved The Magic Folk of the Faraway Tree, and the idea of dorms and midnight feasts, and groups of kids solving mysteries like the Secret Seven did. Your Celtic symbols make a beautiful scene, left me with the salmon in the Well of Knowledge, and the poet Taliesin receiving his wisdom.

Lucky you, to be going into the magic landscape!

[Leanne]

Many thanks, folks. Most of this is Enid Blyton's fault, and then a bit of King Arthur, but what's a story for if you can't blame it later?

---

Mercedes, with my luck the salmon would have just bitten my finger off... this little finger on my right.

[billy]

i often escape to these places, though not quite as elegantly.
enjoy the journey

Yours are the shores that childhood built
from Toyland to the Old Mill, Smugglers Top
to the Enchanted Wood. Somewhere between
seven and fourteen, castles grew over the fairy rings
and witches hunted kings to Ynis Witrin. Later,
druids sang to flame and forest as three goddesses
tripped over hearth and heather. There, together,
yet still apart: in mountain mist, in salmon streams,
there lies my heart.

[Joey Automata]

Yours are the shores that childhood built
from Toyland to the Old Mill, Smugglers Top
to the Enchanted Wood. Somewhere between
seven and fourteen, castles grew over the fairy rings
and witches hunted kings to Ynis Witrin. Later,
druids sang to flame and forest as three goddesses
tripped over hearth and heather. There, together,
yet still apart: in mountain mist, in salmon streams,
there lies my heart.

Wow. Very good. The title seemed a little boring at first. But after I read it, it seemed fitting. I don't know anything about London but I liked that you appeared to be very specific. There isn't any filler in this poem. It's packed with content. It's very condensed, which I think it's a good thing. I don't like sparse poems. I like the enjambment. The first and last lines are very good. You personify "shores" as something that built a childhood (and I guess you personify "childhood" too, so that's doubly good). The final line, "there lies my heart", is simple but fitting. You even sprinkled in some rhymes (rings/kings) and alliteration (hearth/heather). There's a lot going on in this little poem.

[Leanne]

Thank you Joey

[poe]

This poem is pure immersion. Somewhere I want to be. I'm right there.
Good 'un, Leanne.
poe (D)