Colin Wilson Signing A Copy Of The Poem 'Tetherdown'

TETHERDOWN

The Home of Colin Wilson

By

John G. Sutton

                                                        When the wind from Gorran Haven

                                                        Blows across to Tetherdown

                                                        Sweeping in sea salted ozone

                                                        From that cobbled Cornish town

                                                        And the sacred scent of fishes

                                                        Fills the early morning air

                                                        Then let me be in that safe lodging

                                                         For my joy is ever there

                                                         When the insults of this world

                                                         Can touch me nevermore

                                                         And the curfew sounding bell

                                                         Calls me to an unknown shore

                                                         Close in then The Outsider

                                                         Keep the wildest storms away

                                                          Be they errant human nature

                                                         Or the gales from Veryan Bay 

                                                        Wrapped in stone and ancient oak

                                                        Where the peace lies ages deep

                                                         Let me rest by Gorran Haven

                                                         In that long eternal sleep

                                                        And if some speak my name and whisper

                                                        Of a fleeting world renown

                                                         Let their comments catch the wind

                                                         That blows across to Tetherdown.

(c) John G. Sutton 2002.

Note: This poem was started by Sir John Betjeman whilst he was staying at the home of Colin Wilson. The author/poet John G. Sutton visited Colin Wilson in 2002 to interview him for the newspaper Psychic World and Colin told him about Betjeman starting but not finishing the poem. Sutton decided to attempt to complete the work and this is the result. It is written in the style of Betjeman, a poet that he had long admired. You may judge if Sutton managed to succeed and do feel free to pass your judgement by email to: John@psychicworld.net

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