Today's poet

[Harry H Howgill]

I'm not being kind, I'm genuinely impressed. I've been trying to write a longer poem about my misty run yesterday and have only got a couple lines sorted so far. Did it take you long to write? Anyway, I'm glad this thread gave you the impetus to share it. Oh dear, 0.39am and I should be in bed as I'm biking tomorrow morning. It is an addictive thread.

Luckily the little one stayed asleep long enough for me to complete it. I'd love to say that I rattled it off in 10 minutes, but it took me blooming hours in the end until I was happy with it. It certainly doesn't flow. It is great fun to do but quite a slog (much like our sport!), with half the time being the final edit.

Good luck with yours and enjoy your ride.

[freckle]

HHH this is such a wonderful description...i am the type that would get lost on several occassions! excellent verse

Fairfield Horseshoe in the Snow

It was a grim midwinter’s day
When Billy rang me up to say:
“Grab your kit, despite the snow,
We’ll give Fairfield Horseshoe a go.”

So off we set all full of beans,
Up the Nab through Christmas scenes.
Fresh tracks made, lively banter,
Lads together, at a canter.

Even though the view soon vanished,
Thoughts of maps were quickly banished.
“A dozen times we’ve all been round.
We’ll recognise familiar ground.”

Blazing trails through the frost,
Without a thought of getting lost.
Summit reached; no soul there,
“Its us brave boys; no others dare!”

We looped on round the great horseshoe,
Map still in bag and compass too.
Then spot some stud marks on the floor,
“They’ve done an anticlockwise tour!”

“Well done to them” we all did say.
More tough souls had braved the day.
Its odd we didn’t meet them though,
But visibility is zero.

“Well that’s our navigating done!
Chase those tracks, enjoy the run.”
We sped on down, a happy group,
Certain we’d complete the loop.

Then suddenly as we descend,
Appears the sun; a long lost friend.
Delight at first, then someone blabs:
“That’s not High Pike, this one's the Nab!”

We then all twigged what this view meant:
Those tracks were ours! From the ascent!
“Our navigator’s for the sack!”
We’d not looped round, we’d come straight back!

There were no others, only us.
Silly fools. But that does,
Send a message: In the clag
Get your map out of your bag!

[Mossdog]

Fairfield Horseshoe in the Snow

It was a grim midwinter’s day
When Billy rang me up to say:
“Grab your kit, despite the snow,
We’ll give Fairfield Horseshoe a go.”

So off we set all full of beans,
Up the Nab through Christmas scenes.
Fresh tracks made, lively banter,
Lads together, at a canter.

Even though the view soon vanished,
Thoughts of maps were quickly banished.
“A dozen times we’ve all been round.
We’ll recognise familiar ground.”

Blazing trails through the frost,
Without a thought of getting lost.
Summit reached; no soul there,
“Its us brave boys; no others dare!”

We looped on round the great horseshoe,
Map still in bag and compass too.
Then spot some stud marks on the floor,
“They’ve done an anticlockwise tour!”

“Well done to them” we all did say.
More tough souls had braved the day.
Its odd we didn’t meet them though,
But visibility is zero.

“Well that’s our navigating done!
Chase those tracks, enjoy the run.”
We sped on down, a happy group,
Certain we’d complete the loop.

Then suddenly as we descend,
Appears the sun; a long lost friend.
Delight at first, then someone blabs:
“That’s not High Pike, this one's the Nab!”

We then all twigged what this view meant:
Those tracks were ours! From the ascent!
“Our navigator’s for the sack!”
We’d not looped round, we’d come straight back!

There were no others, only us.
Silly fools. But that does,
Send a message: In the clag
Get your map out of your bag!

Well done HHH. Absolutely brilliant. You've set me up with my first smile of the day.

[Stevie]

Nice one HHH, some nice rhymes there as well, I particularly like clag / bag and banter / canter. You are great inspiration to start penning some longer poems!

[Mossdog]

Not up to HHH's standard, but tripping my way up and over Monk's Moor last night and reflecting on what the hell I was doing there, I came up with this....hardly a poem, and of questionable verse, but here goes.

A Fell Runner's Prayer

In a world which craves certainty,
I seek out simplicity,

In a world which values enterprise,
I embrace emptiness,

In a world which aspires the urban-way,
I offer my soul to the fells,

In a world of cosy self-indulgence,
I long for the sanctuary of adversity,

In a world of which esteems contrivance,
I yearn for raw authenticity,

So please, let me run long, let me run silently.

[Derby Tup]

two seven hour flights
upgraded to first on second
champagne tested good


arrived China safely
now it's tomorrow, I think
feels like yesterday

[southernsoftie]

Not up to HHH's standard, but tripping my way up and over Monk's Moor last night and reflecting on what the hell I was doing there, I came up with this....hardly a poem, and of questionable verse, but here goes.

A Fell Runner's Prayer

In a world which craves certainty,
I seek out simplicity,

In a world which values enterprise,
I embrace emptiness,

In a world which aspires the urban-way,
I offer my soul to the fells,

In a world of cosy self-indulgence,
I long for the sanctuary of adversity,

In a world of which esteems contrivance,
I yearn for raw authenticity,

So please, let me run long, let me run silently.

Amen.

Beautiful.

[Hanneke]

NICE guys!

Journey not too bad then DT, apart from a little jetlag? And still talking in Haiku's I see

[Harry H Howgill]

A Fell Runner's Prayer

In a world which craves certainty,
I seek out simplicity,

In a world which values enterprise,
I embrace emptiness,

In a world which aspires the urban-way,
I offer my soul to the fells,

In a world of cosy self-indulgence,
I long for the sanctuary of adversity,

In a world of which esteems contrivance,
I yearn for raw authenticity,

So please, let me run long, let me run silently.

Nice one Mossdog, I really like that. It works really well. It is good to know that there are people out there that think exactly like I do.

[Harry H Howgill]

Nice one HHH, some nice rhymes there as well, I particularly like clag / bag and banter / canter. You are great inspiration to start penning some longer poems!

Cheers mate, it'll be worth the effort. Go for it.