The Stately Old Mansions of Riversdale Road

[Stephen Whiteside]

The Stately Old Mansions of Riversdale Road

This morning I ambled along in the sun;
No hassle, no hurry, no pressure to run.
I took in the scene, and my racing mind slowed -
The stately old mansions of Riversdale Road.

How bright, still, the colours - the red of the bricks,
The gloss of the paint in a myriad licks.
Something inside of me heated and glowed
As I gazed at the mansions of Riversdale Road.

The windows so pretty, the balconies high,
The angles the roofs made against the blue sky.
Through my thin veins a rich energy flowed,
From the stately old mansions of Riversdale Road.

I know what you're thinking. They hark to a time
When divisions of class and religion were prime.
Above the rough surge a minority rode
In the stately old mansions of Riversdale Road.

Yet the buildings bring vigour. The architects' view
Stands through the ages, and paints the world new
Each time the sun rises. They never corrode,
The stately old mansions of Riversdale Road.

At last I moved on, but I carried the thread
Of the lives that my ancestors once might have led
In my heart and my soul, and I think that it showed...
I'd been touched by the mansions of Riversdale Road.

Stephen Whiteside 01.03.2013

[Neville Briggs]

That's come up well. I have slightly different response to old houses, but I think the poem is good.

Do you carry a notebook on your walk and note down details for your poems or do you remember impressions and put them down later ? Just curious how it's done.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thanks, Neville.

No, I don't carry a notebook, but while I was looking at the old houses I was thinking about writing a poem about them, and began paying more attention to details than I otherwise might have done. I also started thinking about a title, and had that in my head before I got back to the car.

I then got another line, and wrote that and the title down as soon as I got to work, so I wouldn't lose them. Interestingly enough, though, I ended up not using that line, as it didn't fit into the poem. (I find this often happens.) I did keep the title, though.

Does this help?

I realised, too, that I don't write poems about buildings very much. I think I tend to take them for granted, or perhaps most of them just don't inspire me very much. These definitely broke through my indifference, though, which is interesting in itself. I must have driven past them a thousand times, but today I was walking past them for possibly the first time, and I think that made a big difference. The bright sunlight also helped, I am sure.

[Maureen K Clifford]

It's a beautiful poem Stephen - totally can visualize these stately old homes - your words bring them to life. Did you take a photo of them? typo in the last line you might want to fix

[Neville Briggs]

His poem is the photo.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thanks Maureen, Neville.

Maureen, I'm still stuck on 35 mm (film), so I don't tend to take 'occasional' photos - tends to be a whole film - or a least half a film - or nothing.

I suppose that's one of the benefits of the digital revolution - the 'one off'.

Typo? Can't find it.

[Bob Pacey]

Happy to help Stevo


Riversale

Cheers Bob

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thanks, Bob.

[vwalla]

Stephen
Riversale in 2nd and last verses also?
Cheers Val W

[Vic Jefferies]

Great poem Stephen.