Thursday 11 February 2010

Happiness is . . . . .

. . . being out and about on a day when the theatrical spectacle nature provides free of charge is grander than anything even the greatest set designer can equal.. . . . .




Today I want the sky,
The tops of the high hill,
Above the last man's house, 
his hedges and his cows.
Where, if I will, I look
Down even on sheep and rook,
And of all things that move,
See buzzards only above.




Often and often it came back again
To mind, the day I passed the horizon ridge
To a new country, the path I had to find
By half-gaps that were stiles once in the hedge.




Catkins showing golden on a stand of hazel.




A hay wagon waiting for the arrival of cattle
from their winter quarters.





Clouds. . . . .

now scurrying close overhead, 
wild ink-hued random racers that fling sheeted rain
gustily, and with garish boughs overarch the land:
Or, if the spirit of storm be abroad, huge molten glooms
mount on the horizon stealthily, and gathering as they climb
deep-freighted with live lightning, thunder and drenching flood
rebuff the winds and with black purpling terror impend
til they be driven away . .  . . .



extracts of poems by Edward Thomas and Robert Bridges









16 comments:

  1. Love poems and photos, you are right about theatrical performances here we have a re-run of earlier winter perfomances of snow, snow again and more snow.I have seen it palyed so often now I know the plot by heart.

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  2. What a fabulous, uplifting post. It's beautifully sunny here today, but very cold.

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  3. Perfect combination of pics/poem -Thanks

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  4. What wonderful pictures! Makes me want to go walking in Shropshire ... a bit later in the year.

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  5. So much beauty all around us. These are scenes and words to lift the heart.

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  6. These two poets' names and verses are dogging my footsteps at the moment, and the more I see of them, the more I like them.

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  7. What a beautifully gentle landscape, well-worn and homey. Your photos are lovely, Friko. 'Wild ink-hued random racers that fling sheeted rain
    gustily' - just imagine having a way with words like that!

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  8. friko these photographs are absolutely stunning, glorious scenes. i'm in awe!!! steven

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  9. Always a joy to read your posts. Your photos are so beautiful and and to glimpse poetry I would never see otherwise. Thank you for reminding me to write about my adventures. Maybe if I write enough I might even get better at it.

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  10. her at home - winter's not over yet; it's still very cold here but Shropshire has no sow at the moment.

    ChrisH - a walk like that surely brings a lift to the spirit.

    Twiglet - thanks for that.

    Vicki Lane - and if you do I want to know about it.

    Martin H - thank you Martin, we have to try to overcome the dreary time somehow.

    Jinksy - very much of their time, I am not that I like the rather purplish parts of Bridges.

    Deborah - well worn and homey, that's exactly what this landscape is. Centuries old, of course.

    Cloudia - Thanks friend. Aloha!

    steven - thank you steven.

    karin - My pleasure. I'm sure you'd be very good.

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  11. Loved the depth of the photography, wouldn't have been possible without the clouds. Brilliant photography indeed.
    A wonderful weekend for you all.

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  12. The melding of the poem to your beautiful photography was just perfect.

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  13. robert - thank you, and a happy weekend to you.

    Darlene - thank you for your kind words, Darlene.

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  14. Hello Friko

    I saw you post on my iphone and knew that I would wait to see the photos on a big screen because they are so atmospheric...I love the moody scens you have captured with the changing light.

    I can see why the pioneers that colonised New Zealand thought they had arrived in another England.

    Happy days

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  15. A beautiful post; words and pictures quite stunning. Thank you.

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