Josie Whitehead, 68 and a retired teacher from Ilkey, is a relatively new poet who has only really been writing poetry for the last four years of her life. During this short period not only has she penned in the region of 600 poems but one of these “The Wizard of Alderley Edge” is the inspiration for an animated film.
Over 300 of Josie’s poems will be available shortly, in five anthologies published by AMS Educational Publishers, as will the short film made by informatics students at Bradford University.
The Wizard of Alderley Edge by Josie Whitehead
A farmer from Mobberley had a white mare.
And was planning to sell her at Macclesfield Fair.
At Alderley Edge, much to his surprise,
A bearded old gentleman there caught his eyes.
“Now tell me, good farmer, can I buy your horse?” -
But he thought he would get more at market, of course:
“Oh don’t ask this question! I’ll not sell to you.
Now move out of my way, and let me get through.”
So the white-bearded man moved out of his way
Saying, "She’ll be my horse by the end of this day.”
They went on to market. The horse was admired,
But none gave the price that the farmer required.
Now at Alderley Edge stands a very large stone
And here, by this rock, stood the wizard, alone.
When the farmer returned, he called loudly and said:
“Stop here one moment. Please don’t ride ahead.”
He then touched the rock with his staff. Then appeared
Two large iron gates – but the white horse then reared.
The farmer was thrown upon the hard ground,
Though other than bruises was quite safe and sound.
The wizard then told him: “You’ve nothing to fear.
Come, follow me now and things soon will be clear.
They entered a cave and beheld such a sight -
Of sleeping white horses with an army of knights.
He followed beyond to the next cave and found
Wealth beyond measure piled high on the ground.
“These jewels and gold coins - help yourself to all these,
But your milky white mare, I must have her, please.”
“When England has need of this army again
They’ll wake and ride forth across Cheshire’s plain.
All that we need is another white horse . . . . "
The farmer thought just of the treasure, of course.
“Thank God for good fortune” was the prayer that he said,
Then filled up his pockets and turned round and fled.
The iron gates clanged as he quickly ran past,
But, heeding them not, his legs carried him fast.
At a very safe distance he turned and looked back
But all he could see at the end of the track
Was the rock that he’d passed a few minutes before.
And nobody since has discovered this door.
A well marks the place of this story today
See the words by the well? Come, read what they say:
“You may drink of this water, so please take thy fill –
It flows freely for you, at the good wizard’s will”.
Copyright 2009;
Josie told me “ I haven't always been a poet - far from it. It was the very last thing I ever had on my mind but about fourteen years ago I pricked my wrist on a rose bush and picked up a terrible streptacocca infection which almost finished me off. However I was spared death and asked God to show me what he would like me to do with the extra years of my life.
It was four years ago exactly when I went into our local primary school to help as a volunteer pensioner. I went in one hour a week. The children were doing poetry and said they didn't like some of the modern poems so I wrote a poem for them for the next week. It is the poem called "Mickledy-Me" on my website. They loved it and encouraged me to write more and more.”
Josie admitted to being both excited and nervous about the prospect of being a published poet, saying “I hope that my small contribution to the large world of poetry will give both children and adults pleasure. I hope also that my poems may inspire them and stimulate their imaginations.”
More of Josie’s poems can be viewed on her popular website and we will be sure to update you when the books and The Wizard of Alderley Edge dvd are published.
