To Nature

It may indeed be only phantasy

That I essay to draw from all created things

Deep, heartfelt, inward joy that closely clings

And find in leaves and flowers that round me lie

Lessons of love and earnest piety.

So let it be, - and though the whole world rings

In mock of this belief; to me it brings

Nor fear, nor grief, nor vain perplexity.

So will I rear my altar in the fields

And the blue sky my fretted dome shall be,

And the sweet fragrance that the wild flower yields

Shall be the incense that I offer thee -

Thee, only God, and Thou will not despise

Even me, the priest, of this poor sacrifice.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1772 - 1834

From Book One of The Promise Tree by Si Texen

The spiky-haired shop assistant: one of Freda's invisible ones.

Lovely: an old friend of Charles's who runs a caff in Smithfield Market.

Mave: Charles's vegetable preparation Treasure.

The Proctor Sisters: two fragile old spinsters who run The Friary Tea Rooms.

George Lace: Charles's Dad.  Big man.  Hell's Angel biker, now working in his son's restaurant.

Mary Richards: the vicar's wife & barmaid at the pub.

John Richards: the vicar of the village.

Roxy: Charles's transexual head waiter.

Freda: Walter's sister.  Absent-minded.  Talks to the ever-present invisible people who take things she can't find.

Les: keeper of the local post office.  Welsh, with a sardonic wit.

Roger: his tabby cat.

Mike: the village publican, ex 60s & 70s musician, lover of Pentangle's quality sounds.

Valentine: a pedigree Persian cat with a hippy attitude.

Rupert: Dani's friend.  Bizarre, gay, well read & intelligent enough to never just accept the consensus of opinion.

Edwina: a country girl whom the city can't dilute.

Charles Lace: a London barrow-boy done good, now super-chef with his own restaurant.

Walter Hurst: an old country gardener.  Man of the woods and the old ways.

Dani Lace: five feet ten inches; 34A, 24, 34.  Brunette.  Blue eyes.  A model turned photojournalist.