Exeter

Isca,
Roman city
history deep,
from a river with ships
their cargoes
to the city port
would bring,
and products made
would sail the seven seas,
as Cathedral bells
called to prayer,
and tourists came to see
bringing currency
spent,
and prosperity left,
then children born
bought fruit from the markets
and houses built
with industry
making,
the mills to close,
as bombs fell
so concrete replaced
and workmen restoring
the past,
as now
familiar city