Those who witnessed the dawn are fading gradually
Some remain in small communities under the decorated trees
Temperatures are in the nineties
Everything is busy but still
From my vantage I can hear pan pipes mixed lightly with heavy rock
People are dancing near the stones and chanting ancient words
Whose meanings was lost over a thousand years ago
I am going to buy the shit out of the shop
Without any money
We have no money
Their excitement evaporates and the barefoot trio return to the shady tree
I have five pounds
I have ten
Do not waste it on alcohol
Soft drinks and chilled water
You are turning into a square Mike
Somebody has to be sensible
Their words fade as they walk slowly along the rough chalk path towards the village
Wiltshire is known as a county of harsh landscapes but today she is benign
So very benign
Her fields stretch out as far as the eye can see
Some are being harvested
Others simmer in the heat of the day
I decide to walk to Silbury which is about a mile distant
My journey will necessitate the climbing of a shallow hill
This is the Hill of Sudden Dreams
Summw
The buzz bees say as they swarm without malice over the warm wheat fields
Summw
I do not understand the language of bees
Summw
Bees do not have a language
Theirs is a musical existence
As I sit on the descending path
I look at Silbury in the haze
She is as fecund as she always is
But today she seems more fertile
I would like to roll my hand over her swollen belly
And sup from her milky breasts
Open your eyes now and return to the small village through the avenue of the mighty stones
I hear these words on the summer breeze
Do you know what is down that road sir?
There are a few more stones but really there is not much more to see
Can you recommend anything else?
We have walked around the stones so many times
In this heat
My sister is mad
All Canadians are mad
Is it always this hot in the UK?
No this is quite exceptional
Usually it is 23 or 24 in June
Not 34 degrees as it is today
I was told that it rains a lot in the UK
Maybe that is true for the northern counties but the south is normally dry
The taller of the two sisters points to the Hill of Sudden Dreams
What is over that hill?
Silbury you will find Silbury on the other side of the hill
But beware of the hill as it looks placid from here but is a hefty climb
Stop at times and admire the view
I do not mention the soft sudden dreams
That they might experience on their climb
It is not my place to tell them
I would not like to see their disappointment
Should their dreams evaporate and fade
Thank you they said that the English were polite and kind and you certainly are
It was my pleasure
To my surprise the smaller sister fist pumps me
Enjoy your day
I am sure we will
Goodbye
Within minutes the two sisters are figures in a pastel landscape
And then they are gone
I visit the old inn for a welcome drink
The ice machine has broken down
What a day for it to happen
I sit for a while with my warm drink
My bus is due in ten
I will be in Marlborough quite soon
With its public school and wide high street
Where I will change buses for the last time
And travel through the dark Savernake Forest
Towards the sleepy town of Hungerford
Where I will rest tonight