That sinking feeling

Mr. Townsend called us up by four o’clock; and by five the three ladies, my wife and I, and Mr. Townsend, his son and daughter, were got to the barge and set out. We walked from Mortlake to Richmond, and so to boat again. And from Teddington to Hampton Court Mr. Townsend and I walked again. And then met the ladies, and were showed the whole house by Mr. Marriott; which is indeed nobly furnished, particularly the Queen’s bed, given her by the States of Holland; a looking-glass sent by the Queenmother from France, hanging in the Queen’s chamber, and many brave pictures.
So to Mr. Marriott’s, and there we rested ourselves and drank. And so to barge again, and there we had good victuals and wine, and were very merry; and got home about eight at night very well. So my wife and I took leave of my Ladies, and home by a hackney-coach, the easiest that ever I met with, and so to bed.

I go to the bar

on a boat
a hole is a looking-glass

the queen moth hanging
in many a Marriott

good wine and merry
got me
the easiest bed


Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Monday 12 May 1662.

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