Dress for the weather!

By Rhiannonw

Thu, 07 May 2015
  • 2769 reads
7 comments
 

Spitting rain,
sunshine –
glittering lush growth bejewelled;
whirling wind,
billowing crop, large field,
swaying, waving trees;
skylarks,
darting martins weaving,
skimming low across the river,
hunting over the windswept Wye,
a crowd of swooping swifts up high
lady’s smock, pink purslane,
white stitchwort, red campion,
jack by the hedge, buttercups,
dandelions, a carpet of bankside
Himalayan Balsam – short new growth;
rain sweeps across,
lashing splashing rain
soaking in,
but not obscuring the view
–  cold wet reaches skin
– reproofing needed?
soon dry,
enjoyed the Wye.

 

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature

Comments

Submitted by london_calling79 on

A plethora of sumptious vignettes! Really enjoyed the impressionistic vivid images you conjured here. Present continuous 'ing's really make this poem move.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Oh, thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed the whirling walk  – without getting wet! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

It really was a walk with picking out all the good from the misery of a damp wet time. I have a friend who would put Himalayan Balsam amongst the blots on the landscape, but I like it.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

thanks, Jean. We really enjoyed the fresh air and countryside delights, despite the rain back and fore, and even when it set in, it was fairly short lived and the sun came out, though we were rather wet by then, and I think my waterproofs need attention! We saw a heron take off aswell. Himalayan Balsam is becoming rather a nuisance and grows so fast, but it is quite pretty. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

And I enjoyed the Wye, too, Rhiannon.  Thank you for taking me with you.  Don't think I've ever come across Jack by the Hedge, before.  Maybe you would be so kind as to refresh my memory as to what it looks like.smiley.  But as for herons taking off, unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on one's viewpoint, I see one or even two of these making a swift exit from the environs of my pond, most days...especially if I go charging up the garden waving my hands.  Mind you, I don't think I have any fish left now.  But even so, herons are a sight to marvel at.  I always call them 'Jumbo Jets, because they really do dwarf everything else.  Beautiful creatures that they are.

Much enjoyed your poem, as ever, Rhiannon.

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Tina. Glad you enjoyed the shiny and splashy sights! I liked your description of the herons, they do seem quite pterodactyl-like!
Jack-by-the-Hedge seems to be also known as Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), but we've always used the former name as in book I use mostly. It is around a lot now, on the verges, getting quite tall, clusters of small white flowers, biggish 'triangular' leaves. Hope that helps.
regards, rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks for that, Rhiannon, I shall be on the lookoutsmiley