The Malverns

Gold cherry

By Rhiannonw

Fri, 18 May 2018
  • 2887 reads
12 comments
 

Bare, windswept hills – short grass, whitened paths,
their name morphed from the Welsh ‘bare hill’*;
views far to the east – English plain,
and westward rolling ground towards the Welsh hills;
iconic skyline of the Malvern hills,
peaked ridge, seen from afar –
natural ‘dyke’ between two cultures;
bluebell smoky slopes of May
and bridal white of hawthorn sprinkled,
with shady woods around the lower levels.

*[ bare hill – ‘moel fryn’, first-letter-mutation of ‘bryn’ (hill), as adjective ‘moel’(bare/bald) preceding it]

Certificate U
Poem
Countryside explorations
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

'bluebell smokey slopes of may' - that line just rolls off the tongue - thank you for bringing such a beautiful place to life for us here Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Insert. It was lovely to record a delightul afternoon there in this way. I've usually thought of bluebells under the trees in the woods in carpets, so these open slopes were impressive. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Beautiful Rhiannon, the bridal white of hawthorn sprinkled. Hawthorn is a magic plant, the simple white blooms, the vibrant red of Paul's Scarlett and various pink shades in between. You've made me think I must visit The Malverns again.   

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Jane. Yes, we love the brilliant white of the hawthorn when you get up close to their blossoms, but also the beautiful red. I think that is what we have planted in our garden, and it is really full and lovely this year at the moment, but I didn't realise its name. The Malverns have a lovely spacious feel about them. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by rjnewlyn on

'Bridal white' will do it ... This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Wedding Day! Please share/retweet if you like it.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Oh, thank you! and I'm glad those Malverns and the hawthorn gets the recognition! I see I forgot to acknowledge the cherries originally. I don't expect today's bouquets were hawthorn, but seen close to in sunshine those flowers are delightful. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

This is lovely, Rhiannon. I remember the first time I caught a glimpse of the Malverns, driving south along the M5 at dusk, just after leaving the M40. I hadn’t a clue what they were then. It took years of repeating that journey until we worked it out. Their situation and topography make them dramatic despite being diminutive. You painted them well, and topically. A great eye, as ever.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, PT. I remember too being puzzled the first time we saw them when coming this way before we moved up here, and thinking them so distinctive that it should be obvious what hills they were. As you say, not very high, but dramatic and a good view and wind-blow when up there! I expect many who live on the plain to the east are glad of these hills not too far away. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

I really liked both the length of this - no more and no less. And the words definitely made me remember that buzzing summer heat of Gloucestershire with the hills in the distance, though you may be looking at them from another angle I think? It's lovely.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Catherine. I appreciate that.

Yes, my view is from the west or slightly south-west (actually the photo is from the Herefordshire beacon towards the south end of the range), but depending where you are in Gloucestershire, it may be very similar. When we are coming up from Gloucester northwards, the view of the Malverns is quite distinctive like this. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Never having been to the Malvern hills, it was lovely to read your poem which was so descriptive.

A touch of nature at its best.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. Glad you enjoyed. Some lovely weather recently. I commented above about the wind on the Malverns, but I think that must have been a memory of a previous visit! High up can be lovely when it's still or windy. Rhiannon