Following The Monarch’s Way in Poetry

During the summer of 2014 Dorrie Johnson walked a large part of the long distance footpath known as The Monarch’s Way. This traces the 625-mile route followed By Charles II after the defeat of his army in 1651 at the Battle of Worcester, and lead to his final escape to exile in France.                        

An outcome from this has been a collection of over fifty poems which encapsulate some of Dorrie’s varied experiences of the life and landscape of the footpath today and those experienced by the fugitive Charles.

 The Monarch’s Way in Poetry is now published by The Battle of Worcester Society at £4.99 plus £1.50 p&p.

It can be obtained from the publishers at the Commandery, Sidbury, Worcester. WR1 2HU

or

directly from Dorrie at 119 Hillside Drive, St Catherine’s Hill, Christchurch. BH23 2SZ

This is one of the Poems taken from Dorrie  Johnson's Book

Minders of The Monarch's Way

Forget dark-suited men

whose padded shoulders reach their ears;

forget their gloves and shades,

and, because you've watched TV,

forget the armpit bulge where you might guess

a gun is hidden.

These folk have outdoor faces,

friendly eyes; their hiking boots,

beneath the latest mud,

gleam with Dubbin shine;

their rucksacks carry notepads and one,

at least, of Antill's books.

They are custodians of a length

of path, maintain its health,

report on obstacles,

on flood destruction,

new diversions,

change of routes.

They re-mark ways

if signs become obscured or disappear.

They keep the path alive.

 Dorrie