Perseverance Hill

It's good to 'read you' again, fb;-)

I must admit to having to research this one a bit, and in so doing, read the sad story of the ill-fated monk, John, way back in the fourteenth century, who was punished for 'seeking the company of a woman' by being made to crawl on all fours up Ragged Stone Hill, in the Malverns.

It is an emotive poem, and the lines:-

'a globe well worn from the wishing,
the sad little clutter of tea alone'

a prime example of fb at his best;-)

Tina

Thanks Tina and yes you're research is spot on - in fact I didn't know he was called John or that it was for the love of a good woman! I'm just trying to get stuff on paper at the moment and not worry too much about it all. Thanks for reading. :-)

"paper trail of skin". There's nothing wrong with that image. Another good job fatboy. The last line of the first stanza is superb by the way.

So this is where you hid it! Glad Tina explained about the monk.This is very good FB- some great images but if you don't want a cherry- fair enough. It's just good to see some of your stuff again.Keep on writing. You haven't lost your special touch...
atb
;)Pia

Plaigarised without me knowing scratch from shoe's last poem - thanks as always for reading and support. ATB fatboy. :-)

I'm glad you found it Pia and yes you are right, I was hiding it away I suppose, really appreciate you liking this one - just want to throw a few things down and see what happens. :-)

I read this twice, will proabably be back to read it some more. Very powerful and rather beautiful in a haunting sort of way.

Beeme xx

It brings into my mind trying to get my youngest son up the hill to meet his brother from school, and his steps always slowed at the first incline, challenging me he couldnt go faster, and I was trying to egg him on with pictures and jingles about his brother waiting for us in the playground. (I'd usually left it rather late to start)
I am afraid I'm slow on imagery, but am I right in assuming the 'globe well worn from the wishing' is the picture of the longings for travel of the persevering life-traveller? I often don't ask not wanting to display my slowness of imagination.

I've missed you, fatboy! Great to see something a little different from you - I love the compactness and gritty feel to it. Much enjoyed ;-)

Magic xxx

Yes, very good. I liked "the sad little clutter of tea alone" in particular (although would hasten to add, as I'm sure you'd agree, that tea alone can be a wonderfully happy and fulfilling experience). I'm glad Tina did the research - if you're taking it further, I think it might be one that would benefit from a little blurb to accompany it. Good to see another one from you (I haven't written for ages either, so can't complain). Rob

Thanks Beeme really pleased you liked this, and thanks for letting me know. That hill is the first thing i see when i open the curtains in the morning so it's kind of haunting me. :-)

My back has not recovered from all the "shoulders daddy" from my son and now my daughter has joined in whenever we get near a hill - and as we live on the malvern hills so it's pretty much up or down. Don't do yourself down, that's a perfect reading of that line. Many thanks for reading. :-)

Thanks magic it's nice to be missed - and really pleased you liked this poem. I can't say it's compact on purpose, but beggars can't be choosers etc. ATB :-)

I completely agree Rob, tea alone is wonderful, but I always feel there is something forlorn about the remnants of a scone and a jammy knife... I don't do blurbs, but I might think about it for this one, it certainly doesn't work really without Tina's explanation.

I'm hoping to write a bit more frequently but it doesn't help that i'm the laziest man in England and that I have discoverd LOTRO. ATB fatboy :-)

Hi FB,

I found this poem intriguing and was very glad like
Pia, that Tina explained about the monk.

I never realised you lived on the malvern hills,
although it's probably very hilly, I also imagine
it's one of the most beautiful places to live and
to have written this poem, must be a great tribute
to that poor monk John.

Yet again, you have excelled yourself.

By the way, hope you have a Happy...Healthy New Year.

Jenny.

And you too Jenny - thanks for reading and appreciating. :-)