When the century breaks

will the apple fall

this seasons fruit

orange pippins galas and russets

the year is fallen and yet good

keep the doctor and the devil at bay

the apple bears the colour of these days

fruit and trees scattered rotting twisted

and unkempt all about the

sixteenth century orchard

with terracotta wall

abandoned for henry the eighth

without the ancient disolved

abbey covered red ivy autumnal

to marry

where once good monks

made their deep orange press

and cider from

God honest scrump

copyright Mark Earl

copyright Mark Earl