King Arthur Copyright © Richard J Whiting 2011

If you live
A hundred miles
From the coast;
Have never seen
A river, lake, or pond,

Come sail with me…

Small library doors
Opened onto the world;
There I shook the hand
Of Arthur Ransome;
Sailed the South Seas
Chased by pirates,
Sent carrier pigeons
Across the Lakes,
Ice-sailed to the Pole,
Crossed Secret Waters
To the Dutch Coast.

Children of tower-blocks,
Tenements,
Felt the wind
Racing through their hair;
Tasted salt water
Across their lips,
Dealt with danger on
The High Seas.

You taught us
To light fires,
Find water
In times of drought;
That a humble
Broadland Coot
Was as precious
As the egg
Of a Great Northern Diver.

Your stories as rare
As the Lakeland shores
You loved;
Igniting in me
Loves of my own
On land and shore
That have sailed with me
A lifetime.

After two weeks
I returned the book

But something
Always remained;

The legend of
King Arthur.