Beaumaris Castle
Most perfect in its symmetry, Beaumaris Castle stands
Paraded with ten Inner Towers, It dominates the lands
The Outer Wall, with moated Feet, a fine old stone defence
King Edward’s First campaign in Wales to send the Madog hence.
Young James St George constructed here, the year, 12-95
But funds were shipped to Scotland which diverted all that drive.
And, incomplete, the Castle held the Welsh rebelling force
and later fell to ruins, which neglected castles do, of course.
With local stone the outer ward reflected in its moat
twelve towers and twins of Gatehouses smile down and sometimes gloat!
The Kings of England vied for power, ‘divide and rule’ the game
to conquer Northern Wales and bring some peace with vanquished shame.
Llywelyn fought through bloody marsh, The English held it Fair
the Stonemasons had built it well, four hundred plus the workmen there.
Two thousand more and quarriers – a monumental task
With Smiths and local Carpenters – you only had to ask!
In engineering terms it was the finest castle built,
A symbol of a vision that defies the boggy silt
Its limestone and its sandstone mix the walls with beige and green
The tidal dock supplies the finest salt-sea that a moat has ever seen.