Verses from Stoke St. Mary by A. W. Bowyer.
A. W. Bowyer retired and lived in Stoke St. Mary between 1970 - 1984. He was a gentleman, shy, scholarly, an academic of Queen's University, Belfast. During his time in the village he wrote or translated 11 poems and published them in 1981 as 'Verses from Stoke St. Mary' His gravestone is in the churchyard.

ROGATION EVENSONG The first Sunday in May - Rogationtide - And Evensong begins the normal way, But mindful of the plenteousness of Earth Which God has given for the use of men. The psalm recounts the Lord's munificence, And this the theme, too, of the priest's address, Then forth we fare to an adjacent field, Green foreground to the circumambient green, Set in a far off blue periphery Of Spring-green Somerset in lovely May. Within the church the Paschal candle glows Shedding a golden ambience over flowers - Fragrance and beauty of magenta stocks - But here the chestnut sconces, duly set As yet bear unlit candles. Prayers said For farming, stock and tilth, we then adjourn To a neighbour's garden plot, with the like plea, Calling for a like blessing on the yield, Then, last hymn sung, in blossom-scented air, Rogation made, parishioners disperse, Not soon forgetting this apt evensong. A.W.B. May 1975.

A THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS It happened many miles from here And centuries ago. We shudder at Christ's sufferings - Would we be different now? And if we saw a special star Above Stoke Woods at night, Would we accept it as a sign To set the world alright? And if the rattle in the sky Were not the Concord's flight, But angels bidding us rejoice, Would we share their delight? And if it were to happen now Amongst us all at Stoke, Would we fetch Mary from the shed When the precious Child awoke? A.W.B. 1978

Source: Tom Mayberry 2001