A Wenlock poem

As we pack for our three-day stint in Much Wenlock, serving as 'publishers in residence' at the Wenlock Poetry Festival, I thought I'd share a poem written specially for this occasion, by one of my newsletter subscribers (they're a talented bunch). Enjoy!

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Very Much Wenlock
by Alun Robert

Gone to earth in the wild heart of Salop
near the border with mid Cymru,
three days de rigueur reading and writing
for makars and their publishers in
Much Wenlock. More Wenlock. Most Wenlock:
the perfect place for poetry is claimed
on flyers, on the worldwide web
when a spurious brood comes calling
each and every springtime from
Yorkshire valleys, from Birmingham
and rural conurbations stretching
twixt Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth,
and training up from Oxford spires
yet halting at Adlestrop unwontedly
as express trains seem to do. Or did.
Then changing at Worcester (Foregate)
en route north to Much Wenlock through
Wyre Forest and most verdant vales.
For poetry. For enlightenment.
For craic: a long way from home.