Following the ascent of Helm Crag and a visit to Grasmere.

Daft-0-Dills

(With apologies to Bill Wordsworth.)

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er Helm Crag hill

When all at once I saw a crowd,

Of old guys, walking by the rill;

Beyond the lake, beneath the trees,

Some of them naked at the knees!

They were older than the stars that shine

and twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretched in never-ending line

along the path, in disarray!

Nine of them saw I at a glance,

Drinking their coffee, as in a trance.

The leaves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the ancient trees in glee:

A poet like I could not be gay,

in such a distinguished company.

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

what joy those guys to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

THEY  flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills….

I’ll keep away from them there hills!

(A.G.D)