Caravans (and Ponies!)

The traveller caravans began to arrive on The Green late Monday night, and on Tuesday morning we found that they had been joined by 3 horses.  That is a first!  I have carrots in store too...  but I no longer walk on the green outside our door because the surface is so uneven and I am so wobbly.   

Its stressful as they are all grazing away on the green, and there is not much grass to be had.  They would love those carrots.  Anyway in their honour I will blog this poem by Ralph Hodgson, one I have posted before I think.  I must look him up, as it seems (from the poem) that he felt how short our lives are now and how time speeds up as you get old.  Yes, he did live a long time, 1871 to 1962.  And he wrote this:

Time, You Old Gipsy Man
by Ralph Hodgson

Time, you old gipsy man.
Will you not stay,
Put up your caravan
   Just for one day?

All things I'll give you
Will you be my guest,
Bells for your jennet,
Of silver the best,
Goldsmiths shall beat you
A great golden ring,
Peacocks shall bow to you
Little boys sing,
Oh, and sweet girls will
Festoon you with may,
Time, you old gipsy,
Why hasten away?

Last week in Babylon,
Last night in Rome,
Morning, and in the crush
Under Paul's dome;
Under Paul's dial
You tighten your rein-
Only a moment,
And off once again;
Off to some city
Now blind in the womb,
Off to another
Ere that's in the tomb.

Time, you old gipsy man,
   Will you not stay,
Put up your caravan
  Just for one day?

Our current visitors though, will have to hasten away. Local government rules seem to ensure that these present travellers do not stay on our Green for more than a couple of weeks, and I remember they were only here for days last time.  And I also remember that they split the caravans up, some parking in the car parking facilities of various blocks of flats.  So it has just occurred to me that I should go and check our guest parking...

Nope.  All clear so far.   I will pixel myself off to Col's blog - the Captain's Log - and see if I can find an appropriate horse/caravan/green photo to head this blog.

I have found one of a New Forest Pony, and one of a young Mrs Captain B - tenuous connection? - its from when we used to holiday in the Merritt's caravan on the Devon/Cornwall border, many years ago.

And yet, with reference to the poem, was it only yesterday that we were young?  It seems like that, it really does.