Along the Cat's Back

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Fri, 26 Aug 2011
  • 4132 reads
13 comments
 

(at the edge of Black Mountains, Olchon valley)

Rewarding climb, past stunted gorse
with bright gold flowers, to the ridge –
its slopes are iridescent pink
– the shining heather;
from each edge
is spread a differing landscape-sight:
I’m high above the spacious plain,
with distant hills and rainstorms, right;
deep sombre valley to the left,
remote, a home of birds and sheep,
and ending in a tumbling cleft,
with stream and stones, to follow down
to placid lane, and ruins now asleep
still speak of busier, sweaty days,
and satisfying, struggling ways.

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature

Comments

Submitted by fatboy74 on
'Deep sombre valley to the left' - reminds me of a story by LTC Rolt called Cwm Garon set in the Black Mountains at the first Llanthony Priory. Beautifully described and nicely crafted. :-)

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Wonderful poem, Rhiannonw. Beautifully crafted, as fb says. Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thanks to both of you for your supportive comments. I haven't read the story you referred to fb, and thought you comment about it being beautifully described and nicely crafted might refer to Rolt's story, but Tina thinks you refer to what I've written! Hope it brings to life a lovely quiet place anyway. (nice to get the cherries!)

 

Submitted by the unfolding head on
I really enjoyed reading this, sets the scene so well... beautiful descriptive language

ddf

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thank you so much. Actually, it came about when I had to wait over an hour for my mother in law to be called in to see her doctor! Rh

 

Submitted by Cavalcader on
new Rhiannonw Well deserved cherries. Beautiful and peaceful, poem and scenery and picturesqe. Hope all is well. julie x

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thank you Julie, glad you enjoyed it. Rh

 

Submitted by fatboy74 on
I see what you mean- well Rolt's story is all that but I was referring to your poem. :-)

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thanks fb! Rh

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

I like this with its details of the landscape as well as the activity involved (sweaty days). Do you take a notebook when you go rambling or just remember it all and write later when you have time.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I think I remember details that are striking if something starts off the verse thoughts. I try to remember to have a pen and some paper in my bag, and grab a moment for a jotting when my husband is taking a photo, or we've stopped briefly. I think the quiet of the walk stimulates some quiet thoughts, and sometimes ways of expressing something, and that can be easy to forget! Thanks, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

This is such a beautiful poem Rhiannon, it would be a perfect one to read aloud. I could actually hear Richard Burton reading, I don't know why, but his voice came to mind as I read.

By the way, hope you have a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. And I hope you too have a happy time at Christmas and in the new Year.

I suppose Richard Burton's voice is a familiar remembered Welsh accent, so some similarity to mine maybe, and to those speaking of this scenery! Rhiannon