On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble;
His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves;
The gale, it plies the saplings double,
And thick on Severn snow the leaves..................
Housman
On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble;
His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves;
The gale, it plies the saplings double,
And thick on Severn snow the leaves..................
Housman
Great choices from Freckle, XRunner and I like the excerpt from Solomon. Alf...that picture is amazing! I thought I had some good icicle shots but nowhere near as good as that!
Haven't had a Kenneth White for a while:
Heron of the Snows
Chinese studies on Maryhill
China, Xth century, when Siu Hi
painted his Heron of the Snows
on a Frost-covered Branch
the ungainly, cold-eyed bird
the mass of white plumage against
the grey sky, the uncouth claws
and Chuang-tzu asked: what
does the great bird see that can rise
so high in the wind? Is it original
matter whirling in a dust of atoms?
the air that gives life to creatures?
the unnamed force that moves the universe?
on the riven branch, the heron
like the ghost of an answer
balances in the wind
and stares at the questioning world.
one more from Kenneth and then its off to my bed:
Chant
Birch rites
empty moors
raw skies
incredible snow
mussel beds
gull screams
lost islands
moonglow
wet woods
heron shells
crimson leaves
dark rain
hare pads
lightning flash
written rocks
begin again.
Nice one Solomon. I need to read more Housman. I love this one from Wendy Cope about him...Originally Posted by Solomon
I think I am in love with A.E. Housman,
Which puts me in a worse-than-usual fix.
No woman ever stood a chance with Housman
And he's been dead since 1936.
Good find Solomon - thanks.
Am Yisrael Chai
That's very funny, nice one HHH. I just read this by Housman and liked it:
XVII
The stars have not dealt me the worst they could do:
My pleasures are plenty, my troubles are two.
But oh, my two troubles they reave me of rest,
The brains in my head and the heart in my breast.
Oh grant me the ease that is granted so free,
The birthright of multitudes, give it to me,
That relish their victuals and rest on their bed
With flint in the bosom and guts in the head.
This could have been about me this morning as I lay like a dormouse not wanting to get up! (another Housman)
XI
Yonder see the morning blink:
The sun is up, and up must I,
To wash and dress and eat and drink
And look at things and talk and think
And work, and God knows why.
Oh often have I washed and dressed
And what's to show for all my pain?
Let me lie abed and rest:
Ten thousand times I've done my best
And all's to do again.
I'm back like the preverbial bad penny
Man Flu
Feeling blue, caught the flu, head like glue, what to do.
Feel the chill, feel quite ill, take a pill
Bed is best, have a rest, what a pest
Miss the game, what a shame.
Can’t watch telly, aching belly, feet are smelly, ate some jelly
Made me worse, what a curse, throat like furze.
Drank some coke, what a joke, made me choke
Feel so weak, can hardly speak.
Think I’m dying, feel like crying, friends are sighing. WIFE”S not buying
“Stop the moaning, give up groaning, no more conning,
Just be glad, you’re not as bad, as poor old Brad,
He’s got piles." Hides her smiles
Counted sheep, fell asleep, in a heap, nice and deep.
Woke up fine, after nine, drank some wine,
What a day, I have to say, come what may,
I’m still alive, I’ll survive.
Margaret Foster
Given he was murdered 30 years ago today, a quick blast from John lennon who scarily was must of been thinking of stolly 2010 version by the sound of things
Nowhere Man
He's a real Nowhere Man,
Sitting in his nowhere land,
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody.
Doesn't kave a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere Man, please listen,
You don't know what you're missing,
Nowhere Man, the world is at your command.
He's as blind as he can be,
Just sees what he wants to see,
Nowhere Man can you see me at all?
Doesn't kave a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere Man, don't worry,
Take your time, don't hurry,
Leave it all till somebody else lend you a hand.
He's a real Nowhere Man,
Sitting in his nowhere land,
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
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