A poem about the restoration of Chiswick House and Gardens

Burlington’s vision had grown sleepy foggy and forgotten
Retreating into a mist of municipal mediocrity
Forked by two motorways
Unloved ragged gratified and unkempt.

All the elements despite the ravages of time
Have now been lovingly restored
Into a perfect harmonic composition
One man’s dream

Gloriously proportioned
Gentle, symmetrical and softly hypnotic
The Palladian Villa stands
A near perfect jewel like creation

An embracing lake frames
Temples and hypnotic vistas which
Meet up with gigantic inviting cedar trees
Their branches kissing the ground

Restorative sleep has revived
This sleeping beauty
Now fully awake all the elements of this classic creativity
Culminates once again into Chiswick’s little piece of idyllic Italy.

Tony Godel

Chiswick House and Grounds have always been one of Tony's favourite places. Along with his partner, he used to run the Cafe in the grounds between 1992 and 1997 "turning it into a destination".

November 29, 2010