December 17: Hever Castle
Thank you to Natalia Richards, author of the two Anne Boleyn novels "The Falcon’s Rise" and "The Falcon’s Flight". Natalia wanted to share a poem that a friend shared with her about her beloved Hever Castle, along with these photos that Natalia took of Anne Boleyn's childhood home.
Hever Castle by Marion Jones.
Across rank marsh and orchards fair
Through Kent the great king rode,
Passed hop fields, downs and forest ways,
To where the Eden flowed.
By castle keep and castle moat,
And glimpse of silvery fin,
A small and homely fortress stands,
The home of Anne Boleyn
The handsome trees were saplings then,
Or unawakened seed,
I wonder, did she wed her lord
To serve a kinsman greed?
Touch the stone and touch the latch,
and creepered wall beside,
They sent her forth from Hever,
To become a monarch’s bride.
Hear the horses footfall,
And hear the courtyard ring,
For three short years he cherished Anne,
His love a fleeting thing,
Touch the might drawbridge,
And touch the oaken door,
Anne died upon the scaffold,
Tho' a noble queen she bore.
Touch the bank and touch the bough,
And touch the dying leaves,
How cruel to grant her childhood home,
To the Lady, Anne of Cleves.
Still stands the lovely castle
Still flows the river clear,
Touch the walls and wooden beams -
For Anne Boleyn was surely here...
