University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
A book of Bristol sonnets

By H. D. Rawnsley

collapse section
 
 
 
 
BRISTOL CASTLE AND THE TRAMCARS.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


5

BRISTOL CASTLE AND THE TRAMCARS.

Memorials of the green immortal past,
How full of strength and quietness they are!
The broken altar, and the dungeon bar,
With love and fear still keep their stronghold fast.
But on thy terraces the shops are massed;
Wheel-needles click where clicked the locks of war;
Unswerving rolls the jingling tramway car
Where horses pranced and knights were saddlecast.
In the broad meads whole holiday prevails,
The king looks on from his accustomed place;
Safe, for thy towers, sleek merchants show their bales;
And grey friars amble in with easy pace!
While we, regretful, swifter hours must race,
From street to street, along the iron rails!
 

“Wheel-needles” refers to the sewing machines, whose incessant clicking may be heard in the factories and shops.

Richard II., who came, with all his ladies and the court, to Bristol in the spring of 1387, and held high festivities.