February

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Tue, 03 Feb 2015
  • 4343 reads
11 comments
 

(as with 'January' this is based on ‘Chwefror’ [Februrary] by Eifion Wyn)

Rushing, howling wintery winds,
shake my window, shudder door,
throwing withered leaves around me,
whirl the twigs along the floor,
bend the oak, and buffet ship
til it dance and roll and skip:
February brief has shrunken days –
early dusk, and dawn delays.

Powerful, freely blowing, roaming
over hills and sea with zest:
frail ones kept inside their homesteads
hedgehog kept within its nest;
the swallow likes a gentle breeze,
and butterflies the summer warm,
but some enjoy your roaring bluster –
pummelled by a pounding storm.

February winds gust, blast and batter:
cover sea with horses white,
smother hills with drifting blizzards,
booming voice resounds of might,
but if there comes a fragile bleating –
early lamb on lonely field,
may it lie in sheltered hollow,
shielded, from the gale concealed.

 

Certificate U
Poem
The Months of the Year
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cherries, Eds! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by a102866 on

 I particularly like the last stanza. I like the contrasting of the howling wind and bleating lamb. It reminds me of the saying that "March comes in like a lamb, goes out like a lion. Congrats on your very cherry day!

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Stephen. Nice to hear from you. As I think I mentioned when I did the one on 'January', I've based this on a favourite poem of my youth. This Welsh poet did all of the months, but January and February are I think the strongest, and most memorable. One can't translate exactly into a different language, and a different era, and so I've used a number of his ideas, and rhythm, but altered it too as I felt made an equivalent poem of my own, but based on his ideas. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Bee on

This is beautiful, Rhiannon. Such strong description makes it exciting to read and picture. I really liked it. 

Bee

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Bee. I always liked the feel of the Welsh poem also, but this had to be my own in a  way, though borrowing inspiration very much. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Stephen Thom on

always enjoy your ability to bottle nature and the elements and project them with lovely phrases like 'whirl the twigs along the floor, bend the oak, and buffet ship'. and again repeating but i like the idea/homage/imagination, bringing something new whilst paying tribute, even if i do not know the welsh poem. it sparks my imagination&in turn makes me think of possibilties. are you planning to continue, it would make a lovely collection.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks very much, Stephen. As i said above, some ideas come from the original, but the challenge was to adapt where I felt I needed to, but to keep the main feelings of the original and to get it into reasonable English poetry, which strict translation could never do anyway!
Oh, and I would like to continue, but the next may deviate more from the original. Some of the wordings I'm unsure of their meaning, and also, not such an appealing poem, but still has some appealing ideas … Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

Lovely poem, and nice to get a wider audience for your favourite Welsh poet in this way. It was strong and powerful and felt cold, with just a hint of spring at the end. My experience of previous Februaries is that they usually get pretty gentle with lots of early signs of spring - and I saw my first snowdrops the other day.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jean. Yes, Februarys do vary, and of course he was living in Wales, amongst the hills. Of course, February in Dakota … ! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Very atmospheric and bracing to read Rhiannon,

Oh! For those poor early lambs that come into the world, let them find their sheltered hollow,

shielded from the gale concealed. Loved that line, reminded me of the sheep we saw on the moors once.

Congrats on the well deserved cherries.

Jenny.  smiley

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. Glad you enjoyed, and empathised with the lambs! Rhiannon