A Bit of Brooke

YOUR hands, my dear, adorable,
Your lips of tenderness
—Oh, I’ve loved you faithfully and well,
Three years, or a bit less.
It wasn’t a success.        
  
Thank God, that’s done! and I’ll take the road,
Quit of my youth and you,
The Roman road to Wendover
By Tring and Lilley Hoo,
As a free man may do.
  
Rupert Brooke (1887–1915).  Collected Poems. 1916.
The Chilterns

I had a hospital appointment this afternoon, and as the sun was shining when I set out afterwards decided to walk home (a mere 12,000 steps or so). On the way I came across this stone which has part of Rupert Brooke's "The Chilterns" on it, with a mention of Lilley Hoo which is just outside the town, and apparently Rupert Brooke used to walk there while a student at Cambridge.