Have you heard of the old curse of Hastings
Where yon Harold got shot in the eye?
Which says if you’re born here in Hastings
You’ll return here to roost and to die.

You may travel the world in your lifetime
And think you’ve out-witted the worst
But you’ll always return to your birth place
When your travelling bubble’s been burst.

You may get a good job in high finance
Or become an elected MP
But your roots are still here in your make-up
So it’s here that your tombstone will be.

And there’s nary a way to escape it
For your destiny’s here by the sea ‘
Cos Hastings at birth equals Hastings at death
And no matter what life brings ‘twill be.

© Mary Stewart, June 2018