Poem- Hereward the Wake
As an exile he returned
To a land all raped and burned
Seeking vengeance for his people
The Normans had laid waste
To the Fens, his fields, his space
Took shelter under Ely’s steeple
Rebellion now on his mind
To fight for Anglo-Saxon kind
Seeking vengeance for his people
Anglo-Saxon King now dead
Duke William ruled instead
Rebels grew under Ely’s steeple
Harass, probe and then retreat
The Normans grew cold feet
Gave hope to his rebellious people
Anglo-Saxons gave applause
To his rally and his cause
An army gathered under Ely’s steeple
Duke William went to meet
His Norman army in retreat
Gave guidance to his people
No quarter to be given
“Kill them all, none to be living”
Dark clouds surround Ely’s steeple
Twas not an easy task
Through bog, mulch and marsh
To make battle against Saxon people
As they sheltered on an isle
With local knowledge as their guile
Saxons made defence of Ely’s steeple
For days and days they tried
To move Saxons from their isle
Divine help saves Saxon people
Some Monks that William swayed
To their people have betrayed
Safe passage to Ely’s steeple
Norman victory is in their grasp
Saxons battle to the last
The Exile fights for his own people
Battles on for Saxon’s sake
The last hero, Hereward the Wake
Honour remembered under Ely’s steeple