Lichfield In December Poem by John Rickell

The Cathedral church
was almost empty.
No Christmas lights,
peaceful, quiet,
no more than eight,
but room for thousands.
It was warm inside........
we'd left the cold outside.
and stayed awhile,
how long we did not count
leaving candles and a pray.
In the streets old buildings
back a thousand years.
Doctor Johnson on a plinth
Remember him
a dictionary in his hand?
The streets were busy
citizens smartly dressed
and shops well filled,
Jewels in some,
discounted suits and toys
Christmas trees in plastic bags
yours for five and twenty quid.
The Earl of Lichfield fed us well
enough to walk the town
every alley nook and cranny
stone flagged pavement
coffee and a chat
Soon dark we had to home,
left behind Mammon lights
beneath the darkening sky
Three-wise-men-blue
its southern star
and near full moon.