Dilton Marsh
Halt; by Sir John Betjemen
Was it worth keeping the Halt
open,
We thought as we looked at the sky
Red through the spread of the
cedar-tree,
With the evening train gone by?
Yes, we said, for in
summer the anglers use it,
Two and sometimes three
Will bring their
catches of rods and poles and perches
To Westbury, home for tea.
There isn't a porter. The platform is made of sleepers.
The guard
of the last train puts out the light
And high over lorries and cattle the
Halt unwinking
Waits through the Wiltshire night.
O housewife safe
in the comprehensive churning
Of the Warminster launderette!
O husband
down at the depot with car in car-park!
The Halt is waiting yet.
And when all the horrible roads are finally done for,
And there's
no more petrol left in the world to burn,
Here to the Halt from Salisbury
and from Bristol
Steam trains will return.
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