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The Ridge
Paul Budd
A chalk ridge once ran from Purbeck to the Isle of Wight,
un l, that is, the ocean gained ascendancy.
Beyond Old Harry’s rocks it lost the fight
Surrendering to the English Channel’s ancient bite
scythed in landslides or inch by inch as scree.
A chalk ridge once ran from Purbeck to the Isle of Wight,
A wall of long dead plankton turned to calcite,
a fortress ba led long against the ancient sea
beyond Old Harry’s rocks it lost the fight.
No human eyes can now recall the ridge’s plight,
proud limestone rock pulverised to debris.
A chalk ridge once ran from Purbeck to the Isle of Wight,
Absent from the horizon now that ridge’s might.
Of its earthly presence geologist’s decree
beyond Old Harry’s rocks it lost the fight.
Impossible now to recreate that awesome sight,
where that limestone palisade used to be.
A chalk ridge once ran from Purbeck to the Isle of Wight,
beyond Old Harry’s rocks it lost the fight.
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