STEPHANIE JUPP

CONSTANTILYMPSTONE


"It's just like the Bosphorus!"
the Turkish neighbour says,
as if Powderham Church
had grown a minaret,

the bosky Haldon Hills had
given way to Asian steppes,
and the 9.56 rattling down
to Teignmouth on the other side

were the Orient Express;
"except for the tides, of course"
he adds, thus denying us
those precious hours

when sandbanks
welcome waders
and little boats lie
clinking at their moorings.



Stephanie Jupp grew up in Lympstone 1947-1967, and has spent the last forty years coming back as often as possible.