Last night, we changed our plans for today. 
Instead of joining the guided walk, 
we spent our last day in Somerset 
in Nether Stowey, the village 

where poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived 

while writing some of his finest poems. 

We had great fun touring 

his perfectly-kept historic home, 

getting good help 

from some of the devoted lady volunteers.  

As I often do when in England, 

I felt like I was on sacred ground, 

being in the home of such a distinguished poet, especially since William Wordsworth, 

one of my very favorite poets, 

was a frequent visitor to the small house. 

Here they conceived the idea of "Lyrical Ballads", a book of poems that is still considered 

one of the most important volumes 

in the history of English poetry. 

I pictured them sitting by the fireside 

in the tiny living room, 
going over the poems 

that were conceived and discussed 

while on their many long walks 

with William's sister Dorothy. 

Researchers have estimated 
that these three friends probably walked 
about 10,000 miles 

over the course of the years -- 

and much of their walking happened in Somerset, where we have been staying (and walking) 

for the past week. 

I do feel somehow honored to be here, 

on such sacred soil.