We were delighted to welcome to the Green Fair local poet Rob Husband, who read some of his work to open the fair. Here follows his poem, This Town, which eloquently sums up for so many of us how we feel about our town and community.
I believe this town
Can breathe the breath of all its finest breeze
Can wash its face in sparkling jewels
Of untouched Devon streams
I believe this town
can walk lightly on the streets that bear its name
can leave the world a better place
than when it first became
An on other days...
I stay hidden in the comfort of my quilt
slumbered in the anxious guilt
that I may not have done enough
I have brought central London to a standing still
poured bloodied paint on the streets of number 10
I have clothed my roofs to capture the sun
have sourced my heat from fresh pumped air
Grown vegetables with no pesticides
just all my love and care
But have I done enough?
I believe this town
Can breathe the breath of all its finest breeze
Can was its face in sparkling jewels
Of untouched Devon streams
I believe this town
can walk lightly on the streets that bear its name
can leave the world a better place
than when it first became
And on other days...
I am fixed in the headlights of this current moment's stare
blinded by the loss of all for which I care
wondering if I have done enough
I have done theatrical 'die ins' in busy shopping malls
lobbied banks in middle England market towns
switched my car from diesel to petrol to EV
swapped planes for late expensive trains
spoken publicly of the threat of extinction
and with my opinions created much mealtime tension
But have I done enough?
I believe this town
Can breathe the breath of all its finest breeze
Can was its face in sparkling jewels
Of untouched Devon streams
I believe this town
can walk lightly on the streets that bear its name
can leave the world a better place
than when it first became
I believe this town
can walk lightly on the streets that bear its name
can leave the world a better place
than when it first became
Thanks again Rob,
John Craythorne