Sunlight had given way to a light mist,
nearing nightfall came a thick fog as well,
which seemed to embrace the moor.
Feelings of confusion swept over us,
unsure as we were of our next course of action,
we paused then discontinued our journey.
There was a silent stillness,
we seemed to be lost in time,
with only our sleeping bags,
between the soft, wet moss
and the eerie, thick fog,
which was adrift all around us.
Laying there on the soft earth,
with my ear to the ground,
I hear the scurry of the moor creatures,
they know we are here,
even though the fog is thick.
As I lay curled up on my side,
I wonder what the creatures are thinking,
till finally with eyes shut,
sleep takes over and dreams prevail.
On finally waking with a cold, damp chill,
which chose to engulf us,
I look around with wonder,
realising the sun was radiant where we lay,
yet all around us the fog had not lifted,
"how can this be?" I ask myself,
staring at the spot where we lay.
But soon the fog had once more eclipsed the sun,
making us feel cold once again.
We started packing up our sleeping bags, thinking how amazing to have the sun's,
beautiful light radiate down on us.
In the car with the heater on,
driving through the fog, we feel warmer.
When finally the fog diminished,
we glimpse the road once more,
until life once again comes into view.
I sometimes look back on that night with wonder,
being so close to nature and the elements,
yet feeling that safety of the sun as we awoke.
A moment in time, I will never forget.
Comments
pinda | January 19, 2011 - 18:13
I enjoyed reading this Jennifer :D
'In the car with the heater on,
driving through the fog, we feel warmer.
When finally the fog diminished,
we glimpse the road once more,
until life once again comes into view.
I sometimes look back on that night with wonder,
being so close to nature and the elements,
yet feeling that safety of the sun as we awoke.
A moment in time, I will never forget'
Loved the way you ended it.
How did you come to write this one?
skinner_jennifer | January 19, 2011 - 18:44
Hi Pinda,
thankyou so much for your comment.
Believe it or not, this was a memory from the 70s,
when myself and a boyfriend at the time, went down
to the coast for a weeks holiday, we had £5.00 on
us to last the week, that was alot of money in those
days, petrol was 35p a gallon. We lived on berries
and mushrooms for a week, then on the Friday we
treated ourselves to fish and chips, which was a
real treat. On the way back we decided to cut
across the moors, but hit really bad fog, so we
were stuck there for the night.
It was an experience again I will never forget.
Hope I have explained things to you okay.
Thankyou again for reading, so much appreciated.
Jenny.
pinda | January 19, 2011 - 18:59
:) I hope you've got more memories from the 70s to write about.
seashore | January 19, 2011 - 19:43
I could picture this one, Jenny. Very atmospheric.
Silver Spun Sand | January 19, 2011 - 21:48
I have been in very similar situations, Jennie, and you write about it so well, you bring the atmosphere right back.
Just two tiny typos. First stanza, second line, you need a space between 'as well', and in the fifth stanza you need an apostrophe, ie. sun's.
This stanza I like most of all...very reminscent of a hike I took in the Scottish higlands up to Loch Brandy, which, I actually never found because the fog was way too thick;-)
"There was a silent stillness,
we seemed to be lost in time,
with only our sleeping bags,
between the soft, wet moss
and the eerie, thick fog,
which was adrift all around us."
Much enjoyed.
Tina
Highhat | January 19, 2011 - 22:13
Really very descriptive and atmospheric. I felt I was there with you. Yes bring on more memories from the 70's Jenny!
;)Pia
skinner_jennifer | January 20, 2011 - 10:38
Hi pinda,
you are so kind, I will have to get my thinking cap
on.
Jenny.
skinner_jennifer | January 20, 2011 - 10:39
Hi seashore,
thankyou, I take that as such a compliment, coming
from a true writer as yourself.
Thanks for reading.
Jenny.
skinner_jennifer | January 20, 2011 - 10:43
Hi Tina,
thankyou for the kind comment, I'm glad you enjoyed
this. Thankyou for showing me the mistakes, I have
just put them right, thanks again.
Jenny.
skinner_jennifer | January 20, 2011 - 10:46
Hi Pia,
just had to get this memory down, you would'nt
believe what a crazy week we had, it was really
great fun, we even slept on the beach, which was
amazing, hearing the sea when you wake up.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me Pia, I
am truely grateful for your comments, also thanks
for reading.
Jenny.
MistakenMagic | January 20, 2011 - 13:09
Very chilling, Jenny. Well done!
Magic xxx
skinner_jennifer | January 20, 2011 - 13:14
Hi Magic,
thankyou so much for reading and for your kind
comment.
Hope you are keeping well and enjoying the work
at Durham.
Jenny.
alcarty1 | February 16, 2011 - 21:53
Nice images, Jennifer. Made me listen for the mournful baying of the Hound. Good read.
Al
skinner_jennifer | February 17, 2011 - 10:18
Thankyou so much alcarty1, for your great comment
and thanks for reading.
Jenny.
hulsey | March 18, 2011 - 17:03
A beautifully described piece, Jenny. Very atmospheric and haunting. I've never been to Bodmin Moor, but am now tempted.
skinner_jennifer | March 18, 2011 - 17:17
Hi hulsey,
it is a truely wonderful place steeped in history
and if you like wild then yes it's wild, but I
wouldn't advise wandering off, because the fog can
come down pretty quickly and it can be unsafe in
places.
Anyway thankyou for reading and I like your comment
'atmospheric and haunting,' that is a brilliant
description.
You take care.
Jenny.