W.H. Auden’s poem “Roman Wall Blues
As you travel through the wild of Northumberland National Park, you come to the exposed ridge of Hadrian’s Wall!
When you visit here it easy to imagine why some Roman soldiers may have missed their homeland whilst stationed in the wilds of Britannia, especially if the weather is bad! However, that is not to say the weather is always bad, the last photo shows Hadrian’s Wall on a beautiful sunny day!
Roman Wall Blues, W.H. Auden
Over the heather the wet wind blows,
I’ve lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose.
The rain comes pattering out of the sky,
I’m a Wall soldier, I don’t know why.
The mist creeps over the hard grey stone,
My girl’s in Tungria; I sleep alone.
Aulus goes hanging around her place,
I don’t like his manners, I don’t like his face.
Piso’s a Christian, he worships a fish;
There’d be no kissing if he had his wish.
She gave me a ring but I diced it away;
I want my girl and I want my pay.
When I’m a veteran with only one eye
I shall do nothing but look at the sky.
