Dad’s first car, green, had taken us all the way to the
seaside
We had been to visit relatives close to Nelson
In another part of Lancashire. Stately homes
Chatsworth and Tatton, Lyme Park. Buxton
Buxton was cold
I can still remember the license number. YTE 211
It was (I think) some sort of Hillman. Rusty
What use is knowing the license number?
Buxton was in Derbyshire
But it was cold enough for Yorkshire, Howarth
Home of the Brontes. Heathcliff
One of those towns where they only welcome you
If you spend money on their tea and cakes. As soon
As you’ve finished they want you out, the table
Made free for someone else. Mum would tell them
We’re not coming here again
Eventually we travelled with sandwiches
In a Tupperware box
Biscuits (such as Penguins) for afters
Tea in a flask, with two spare cups
Dad treating himself to a cigarette on arrival
We always made it there. We always made it back
None of us had read the book
But we’d seen bits of the film on television
Laurence Olivier. Merle Oberon
Steven Taylor
.