Into the Loire by John Drudge

Drifting down

Along the river

Like a returning hero

After a hundred years

Of war

Over ramparts

Above fortresses

Behind great walls

To bask in luxury

And the spoils

Of victory

Rejoicing

Like Joan of Arc

At the gates

Of Orleans

Breaking siege

In the light of morning

And fading

On a sea of green

Into history

As an awakened sun

Shines over

The valley

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John is a social worker working in the field of disability management and holds degrees in social work, rehabilitation services, and psychology.  He is the author of four books of poetry: “March” (2019), “The Seasons of Us” (2019), New Days (2020), and Fragments (2021). His work has appeared widely in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies internationally. John is also a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee and lives in Caledon Ontario, Canada with his wife and two children.