Legend of the Leeds Lions

Four large stone lions guard Leeds Town Hall;
They sit with poise and style.
No-one sees them move at all,
Though children see them smile!

One hundred and fifty years they've been
Guarding without a sound.
Many a sight they must have seen
While holding their hallowed ground!

The legend says, when midnight strikes,
The lions all change places.
Unnoticed by the passing Tykes,*
Four lions go through their paces!

And furthermore (the legend goes),
On very rare occasions
Thirteen chimes are heard by those
Four lions at their stations!

On thirteen chimes the lions come down
To walk the streets with ease;
For time is frozen through the town,
And no-one ever sees!

The lions are back where they belong
When normal time resumes;
With nothing different - nothing wrong;
Or so the town assumes!

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Copyright © Robert Haigh 2017

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*Author's note: In informal English
a Tyke is a person from Yorkshire.

This poem is based on a local legend.