Hopesay Common, Shropshire, 27/11/13

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Fri, 29 Nov 2013
  • 5355 reads
18 comments
 

Walking along, high over the views
of hills, dips, valleys – grey-day hues,
space all around, and breezy air;
most of the trees are skeletal bare,
patchwork woods – bands evergreen,
deciduous browns, and, highlighting the scene    
light-catching ginger from leaves unshed;
fern-covered slopes, micro-forest frost-dead,
soon crumbling; and white fluffy sheep, who constantly feed
on the rich, soggy grass, and clumps of reed,
ponies alert, flick of thick white mane,
as they rush to the skyline, surveying again;
row of gnarled hawthorn, windswept, that grasp
the boundary dyke in a strong root-clasp.

 

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

Wonderful description, Rhiannon - thank you for taking me there. I hardly noticed the rhymes at fist because it all came across so naturally. 

Bee

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

That is good to know, Bee, thank you. And I'm glad I was able to share a lovely, enjoyed little outing with you! We have been allocated a 'sitter' for my husband's parents, organised by the council for 4 hours a week, so that we can get out together, my husband and I, and usually enjoy a little meal out, followed by a walk. His parents enjoy their friendship with the ladies who come to 'sit' too, so it is working well. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

All I know of Shropshire is the Lone Pine books and breaking down overnight there once, sleeping in my Dad's car and waking up to see the sun coming up and the Long Mynd. This poem makes me think of both these things. It's lovely, the words 'light catching ginger' leaping out at me and the movement of the horses. Hope you enjoy your time out.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Yes, I know the Lone Pine books, and have enjoyed a number of them. Shropshire is within our range, and feels different to Herefordshire, and has so many lovely hills, and dingles, gulley, very airy and 3-dimensional! Thank you for your comment and I'm glad it brought back memories of the Long Mynd (Little Switzerland my Dad used to call that!) Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

beautiful. I love the way the words slip into each other

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, insert, glad you enjoyed reading this. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by scratch on

This is a superb poem that puts your readers right in the place.  I have to admit that I have been keeping an eye out to see if this got picked or not.  Obviously it has and deservedly so.  The only line that I would reconsider is the ninth one.  The rest is really excellent and a cut above the crowd.  Wonderful stuff.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Scratch. It's always good to feel you have really been able to share the feel of being in a lovely place. I agree line 9 is probably a bit awkward, and may come back to that.
Just noticed the cherries, — nice surprise whoever put them on! regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Rhiannon - a little gem.  Beautiful.

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you very much, Tina. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Rhiannnon,

I've been on such  a lovely walk with your words.  This was beautifiul it just flowed.  LIke someone else has commented I loved this

'highlighting the scene   
light-catching ginger from leaves unshed;'

Wonderful,

Moya

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Just shows how a grey day, brief walk, can end out so enjoyable not just for the strollers, but for a number of others! Thanks again, Moya, and warm regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on

What an inspiring poem! Years ago, I took a course in English Literature and fell in love with the words of folks like Percy B. Shelley, and John Masefield. I felt the heritage of life and memory intertwined in your poem, a springing leap through those glowing woods.

Richard L. Provencher

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Richard.
Shropshire is far from your Canada, but has much wild quiet beauty, and many hills and dingles. So, we are priviledged to be able to go walking, exploring there, and good to share! We actually were staying for a long weekend at the Long Mynd (known sometimes as 'Little Switzerland') last March in sudden very deep snow, and were snowed in, apart from walking through it up onto the windswept, icy nearlby hill. That, for us, here, was unusual. Hard on the farmer who was trying to cope with lambing. Rh

 

Submitted by Richard L. Prov... on

Hello Rh, nature is such a pleasure. To sit among the silence of urban living and to reflect in the natural sounds of woods -- it's magic. My wife, Esther's relatives are from Welby village in Yorkshire. Her great...great... grandfather John Trenholm(e) came to Pointe de Bute, Nova Scotia in 1772. One of his sons was John Jr. aged nine years. I wrote a novel, called The Lad from Pointe de Bute which a publisher was supposed to publish three years ago. Time to find another or simply post it before I go to Heaven. The story is a year in the life of John Jr. at eleven years in the year 1774. It is a historical fiction and an interesting challenge to write it. Cheers, RLP

Richard L. Provencher

Submitted by scratch on

That sounds like an interesting project a not dissimilar to one I have going - albeit in a more contemporary setting - at the moment.

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

A lovely picture of a cold winter day - but full of colour as you point out.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jean. Just realised I've not looked again at that line 9 that Scratch reminded me might be a bit bumpy! Rhiannon