Mynydd Troed

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Mon, 03 Jul 2017
  • 7783 reads
17 comments
 

(Munith - [hard ’th’] Troeed), Black Mountains

Open access hillside – mind
it isn’t easy ways to find
through the swathes of bracken cladding
– will we find a channel mown,
not yet wholly overgrown?
boggy gullies aren’t inviting,
bilberry tussocks deep can trip,
careless trudging foot can slip,
grassy slope is very steep –
easier now to crawl and creep,
find at last the pathway-stair…    

soon atop the ridge, see where
the lake lies on the other side,
and tower above views far and wide.

 

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Sounds (and looks) absolutely stunning!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Insert, and I'm glad you enjoyed it, too. It was a lovely birthday treat outing last Saturday! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by PoppyS on

Nothing better than sitting, picking and eating a fresh billberry or two.

I like the feel of escapism this creates, yes hard work - but what a sense of freedom and the thrill of making it when you reach the top, 'freshness' also sprang to mind - the feel of pure air.

Much enjoyed.

Pops ~xx~

 

Writing is art in pictures – Go paint poetry!

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Poppy, there weren't many bilberries yet, but just a few and I did wonder whether they would be refreshing in that climb and heat! Being careful of the tussocks was in finding a way down. Yes, there was quite a breeze on reaching the top, but a lovely sense of freedom as you see so far too. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Cherries appreciated, a bit bigger than bilberries! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

The challenges underfoot make the process all the more satisfying . Love the idea of bracken as cladding and the anticipation your words build of of the view over the other side.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jane. Yes, it makes you realise how useful proper paths are too, and the care with feet needed! I was surprised at how extensive the bracken covering was. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

A stunning poem that captured all the senses in every way. The views at the end must have been worth all the struggle to get there.

Was it your birthday treat? If so happy birthday for last Saturday. 

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. Yes, it was my birthday treat! I hope you are feeling a bit better now.

Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

It looks like the end result was worth the effort involved in the walk. It looks a lovely place.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jean. Yes, I like being up high, but perseverance is sometimes needed! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

This has the feel of walking, a bit of a struggle. How have you done that? And then the last line I can feel that you have stopped. Is it the long sound of the vowels in "towers" "view" "far" "wide" gives the sense of space? Treating words like musical notes you are

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks again. I think I was/am a bit out of condition. But it was the steepness, and being 'off path' having to find a way with the ground under foot having tussocks and dips, that made it a bit of a struggle, but delight in reaching the top.

Interesting point about vowels. It wasn't intentional, but maybe it does subconsciouly give that wide space feeling of being so high up (as you can see in the photos), Welsh poetry does make a lot of use of sounds in a musical way. Often using quite complex consonant patterns in very strict formal verse, and I think it gives me pleasure in writing to make use of sounds to 'make music'! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Oh, you are Welsh? Am trying to understand why Welsh poetry is so beautiful, even when can't understand it, like Dylan Thomas, all the sounds. Please, could you recommend a book that explains (in English)? I've tried and tried to find stuff online. I notice most of my favourite poets are Welsh or (Gerard Manley Hopkins) influenced by Welsh poetry

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I am Welsh, yes, and Welsh speaking, though a bit rusty - it is not as strong as my English. But my pleasure in poetry growing up was from Welsh language poetry, probably a bit more than that I read and enjoyed in English. It is of Welsh language poetry, that I was speaking of concerning strict consonant patterns that have been used in various forms. Vowel usage is intertwined too I think, like complex alliteration patterns. It is called 'cynghanedd'. That is something you might like to 'google'!

It can lead to rather technical, though musical, writing, but I like the idea of attention to sound patterns that aid impact and memorableness.

Dylan Thomas wrote in English, and I don't know how much he was influenced by Welsh language use of sounds. Similarly I'm afraid I know little of Gerard Manley Hopkins. A lot of Welsh poets of past centuries were influenced by a delight in scripture and redemption in Christ, too, as there were such times of revival of understanding of such. That is refreshing compared to depressive writing, where that sight of hope has often become entangled by other 'ideas' distracting.

I don't know if that has been a helpful reply/comment? warm regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou, I will! I am terrible at languages, so I don't think I will ever be able to read Welsh. But maybe this would be a goal to work towards. One of my grandmothers (who I never met) was Welsh borders

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I think the information about 'Cynghanedd' online is in English, and indicates these patterns in the letters of the words without having to understand the meaning of the words! warm regards, Rhiannon