White Rose

White Rose

Benja L. Matteson

Nestled in the 
green country,
in the 
queen’s country.
It’s just a couple
hours on the train 
before you find
my corner 
of the world.

What a delight 
to see 
that blessed 
cathedral peeking her head 
above 
the northern 
moors.

Cobblestone streets and
cracked walls,
the smell of beer stains in an 
old musty pub,
the sound of church bells from
towers above.
To hide in the minster yard is 
all but serenity.

O’er the bridge I went,
ducking through
familiar old alleys
leading to
Ye’ Olde Starre
or Trembling Madness,
where dreary nights
are vanquished only by 
laughter among candle light.

Give me slanted ceilings 
and creaky floorboards 
and age-old gardens 
every time.

Float me down that old river Ouse
until I shore upon the 
quietest village 
where I can 
be with my books
and die 
a better man.

Pass this
wearied and weathered soul
some brown ale 
and raise a glass 
to that city of the White Rose —
where my heart 
buds and blossoms.

---

Benja L. Matteson
Poet & Author

Benja is a novelist, poet, and travel writer living out of Nashville, TN. You can find a full collection of his works via his Instagram @benjalukewrites or his Substack, the Hollow Scribe Journal. 

Photography by Maria Orlova