On Hergest Ridge 18/3/14

By Rhiannonw

Mon, 24 Mar 2014
  • 2710 reads
9 comments
 

On Hergest Ridge, vast wide blue sky,
fluffy clouds, and way up high,
teased out, diaphonous, filmy shawl,                
crisp, bracing wind, and skylarks’ call,
– their bubbling songs burst out and swell;
one descends, and stands stock still –
maybe guarding an early nest?                
below lie patchwork woods, and west    
the lumpy hills melt in to Wales,
eastward gentler hills and vales
till far away we faintly view
tiny peaks in the hazy blue
– Malvern Hills and Titterstone Clee:

on Hergest Ridge, I seem to be
sitting on top of the world –
relief-map, below, unfurled!

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature

Comments

Submitted by jeand on

Lovely poem. Where is Hergest Ridge? My guess is Worscester region, with the reference to Malvern.

I've gone on some lovely walks in that area.

 

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Sorry, Jean, I didn't write my reply down below as a 'reply' earlier, and suddenly realised I'd put north-west instead of north-east, which I have now changed! Rh

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

 A bit further west than Worcestershire, almost on the border of Wales, by Kington. We live in Leominster, Herefordshire. So, Malvern Hills were just showing on the horizon as small but distinctive peaks, and similarly Titterston Clee which is just north of Ludlow, so north-east of Kington and Hergest Ridge. We hadn't much time for walking that day, but you can drive up a lane near to the top and it was lovely to walk along a while and have such views, and even sit awhile! I'm glad you enjoyed the vista, and your walks in the Malvern area. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

A lovely place you took me to, Rhiannon.  I must try  and get there, in the flesh, so to speak,

one of these dayssmiley

 

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Tina, thank you.
Over dinner I suddenly realised that I'd put the Titterstone Clee Hill as to the north-east, instead of to the north-west on Jean's reply - I never am very good about my left and right hand and mixing up east and west! Anyway in case anyone was interested I have changed that now!
Rhiannon
 

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Left or right it was still a great glimpse of what you saw from that ridge.  You really do write some terrific  nature poems and this was one to add to your growing collection.

Much enjoyed

Moya

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Moya. I'm pleased you enjoyed it. warm regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by fatboy74 on

This brought back wonderful memories of walks with my dog and a picnic with my son, where we watched one of those huge army planes flying through the valley and bizarrely, we were higher than it. When I am on the Malverns, I often try to pick out Hergest Ridge. Thanks for such a lovely poem.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you so much, I'm so glad it stimulated such memories. It is a lovely spot, and the Malverns are a very striking profile on the skyline. On the Malverns also it can feel like the border because of the contrast between the valleys and hills on the west with the built up town and plain on the east. Good to hear from you. regards, Rhiannon