Baronhawk's Nest

Upon a hill
most desolate and bare
sits a lonely mansion
picturesque and fair

A massive Victorian
with stoneworked towers
mosaic glass windows
and sturdy weathered timbers

High walls surrounds the estate
crowned by a gate of ornate color
a sign sits plaintively and above
proclaiming the Estate of Hawkridge Manor

A road gently upward sloping
brings to a stop from gate to front door
the grounds in keeping are well-kept
well-tended a rare garden on the moors

The driveway ends in state
at a lovely terraced roundabout
in its middle a fountain stood
adorned with angels and lovely seraphs

A maze most confounding
sits in the front gardens quite plainly
the hedges tall and forbidding
its secret routes hidden most shrewdly

Where rendezvous are made
amorous or clandestine
within its green hedged walls
many an innocent lost their lustre most pristine

The doors are massive oak
adorned with the Hawkridge crest
a bird a raptor of prey
caught midflight its razor claws abreast

The entry a most spacious hall
with closets and cloakrooms spotlessly groomed
the floor paved with polished marble
its ceiling vaulted high and into the gloom

A grand staircase sits with pride
for guests as well as its residents
straight up to the floor of the first
a place of beds and washrooms where sleep calmly beckons

Guestrooms and bedrooms
adorns these sleepy halls
so remember to tiptoe
in your trysts and don't ever fall

Turning if you please
to the right staircase that looms
leading to the library, gentlemen's study
and smoke-filled drawing room

There lies knowledge in the library
in books and scrolls and tomes
the study a gentlemen's sacred sanctuary
the drawing room a place of business where friendly laughter booms

Upon the left stairwell
should you turn for just a glance
you might find the diningroom, lady's parlor
and ballroom for the dance

The diningroom for lunches, suppers and dinners
the parlor a retreat for the lady her fortress
the ballroom most grand decorated with brilliance
a place for functions, parties and merry dances

On the floor of the ground
doors on the wall to the left
leads to the kitchen, well stocked pantry
and servants' quarters in the west

The kitchen a wizard's laboratory
where grand sumptous feast are conjured
supplied as by magic stored in the pantry
staffed and manned by chefs most gifted

On that same ground floor
through the the doors on the right
are cellars underground, meeting hall
and a greenhouse under sunlight

cellars acts as stores
for more delicious gastronomic delights
the meeting hall for meets and gathers
the greenhouse where my Orchids grow colorful and bright

Through white painted french doors
that opens and leads out to the light
the wide terrace and back porch
a favourite breakfast and tea time site

Of floral and vegetable
the gardens so wide
providing much sustenance
both in meal and to the sight

A pavillion stands majestic and still
amongst gardens and by a lake
a lonely jetty and single boathouse
decorated the sights for the eyes to partake

Many a dip did I take
into the lake in many summers' peak
but mostly I would sit
and wonder at this vision magnifique

Near the borders a wooded glen
a shrubbed area as wild as it can
unsculptured nature to beautify and enhance
the taste and craft all gardeners should grant

Rabbits and other woodland animals
would caper and jump flitting all around
the delectable songs of songbirds singing
a lovely and gently melodic sound

A solitary path meanders
in loops and knots around
a trace for me to wander
taking in the sights and sounds

Welcome to my halls
to this place I have in mind
in reality it might not
but in the future perchance its mine

A mansion and my manor
in wooded glen on English moors
if by chance you should come hither
give me a call and knock on my doors.