Back online...

In case anyone missed us during the last few weeks, someone I know and yours truly were off on a walking holiday along Hadrian's Wall. We made it the whole way from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway, covering some 84 miles in 8 days of walking along the route of an earlier "Clash of Civilizations". Along this line, someone I know sent me this Auden poem, which captures some drizzly feelings that arose out of the mist from time immemorial:

Roman Wall Blues

Over the heather the wet wind blows,
I've lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose.

The rain comes pattering out of the sky,
I'm a Wall soldier, I don't know why.

The mist creeps over the hard grey stone,
My girl's in Tungria; I sleep alone.

Aulus goes hanging around her place,
I don't like his manners, I don't like his face.

Piso's a Christian, he worships a fish;
There'd be no kissing if he had his wish.

She gave me a ring but I diced it away;
I want my girl and I want my pay.

When I'm a veteran with only one eye
I shall do nothing but look at the sky.

WH Auden