OLD ENGLAND PASSING BY

   
The narrow streets frustrate the driver    
yet, please  the eye, letting the bus pass    
unhindered on its way to Thrapston    
Narrow frontages to beat the rates    
long deep houses cheek by cheek,    
walled gardens, secret from prying eye    
flat roof and pitch ,tile and thatch    
in glorious confusion, extemporized    
each feeling for its neighbour    
blending  no thought of competition    
windows same, doors and sky-lights    
yield no clues of wealth or status,    
tradesman and  banker cheek by jowl    
live behind  walls and Wisteria blue,    
while in the streets we shop and gossip    
make traffic wait and grumble    
forgetting we too are drivers.    
By four the streets are quiet    
most have bought their bread and local meat    
sat in street-side cafe, tea  cup and saucer.    
Pupils from the public school    
girls in trouser-suits, discrete    
boys in matching blazers time warped    
in the land of squire and spire,    
Old England passing by, evening cricket matches ,   
midst wheat, and beans, and bridle ways.