Saturday 27 October 2012

Brrrrrrr.....

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Earliest autumn, light and dark, apples
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The Warm and the Cold
Freezing dusk is closing
Like a slow trap of steel
On trees and roads and hills and all
That can no longer feel.
But the carp is in its depth
Like a planet in its heaven.
And the badger in its bedding
Like a loaf in the oven.
And the butterfly in its mummy
Like a viol in its case.
And the owl in its feathers
Like a doll in its lace.

Freezing dusk has tightened
Like a nut screwed tight
On the the starry airoplane
Of the soaring night.
But the trout is in its hole
Like a chuckle in a sleeper.
The hare strays down the highway
Like a root going deeper.
The snail is dry in the outhouse
Like a seed in a sunflower.
The owl is pale on the gatepost
Like a clock on its tower.

Moonlight freezes the shaggy world
Like a mammoth of ice -
The past and future
Are jaws of a steel vice.
But the cod is in the tide-rip
Like a key in a purse.
The deer are on the bare-blown hill
Like smiles on a nurse.
The flies are behind the plaster
Like the lost score of a jig.
Sparrows are in the ivy clump
Like money in a pig.

Such a frost
The flimsy moon
Has lost her wits.

A star falls.

The sweating farmers
Turn in their sleep
Like Oxen on spits.
TED HUGHES
metrodorus:No. 1273 by Halasi Zsolt on Flickr.
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Oh Mr.Hughes, no wonder Sylvia loved you so.
 Every line so vivid, each sentence the first line of a story or the last words of a book...
fire
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We are off to split logs as the fire will be hungry today...the first sting of polar air...icily exhilirating...
-x-
wrap up everyone
...like a doll in its lace...
....like a chuckle in a sleeper...
...like a key in a purse...


14 comments:

  1. beautiful
    spring is limping in here, cold tonight but 30*C on wednesday
    hope mr boodle is curled up in front of the fire
    pxx

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  2. Yes it does seem to be colder now. It's time for the garden to rest. I need to get knitting I want to knit some socks but have never done them before !
    Sally x

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  3. Lovely pictures... And one of my favourite poets. Fell completely for his work when I was 16 and he visited my school!

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  4. sublime photos thanks hx

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  5. Beautiful photos, evocative words, I love the change of seasons. Wonderful walks, then come home to firelight, candles, blankets, quilts, hearty meals, books, ....
    Wendy

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  6. Beautiful photos and lovely words.

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  7. Wonderful romantic nostalgic post
    ❤❤

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  8. I love the line about the badger in its bedding like a loaf in the oven. Well done for finding this great poem. And I love the first image you have chosen.

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  9. Autumn has peaked this week and everywhere is looking just gorgeous isn't it? I visited Heponstall last summer where Ted and Sylvia lived - just the sort of place to inspire such writing.

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  10. So glad I've stumbled down your lane to find your beautiful and creative blog.
    What is it about autumn that makes turn to poetry? I keep thinking of Kavanagh and Heaney and now I've another poet to read .

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  11. What an inspirational poem, one to read over and over again. Keep warm and the fire lit!
    have a great week.
    Jillx

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  12. You do write such a wonderful blog, loved each and every line and image in this post. The best part of cooler days and nights is lighting the woodburner. jayne x

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  13. What a wonderful poem! What a wonderfully moody post!

    and, yes! I'm here! I've been MIA, again.... but, in reality, hoarding your posts along with my UK Country Living magazines until I found my head and heart again.... hmmm.....

    you know, I'm not joking! =/ =] (I mean, I'm not joking about hoarding your blog posts alongside my precious UK home magazines. I have no clue if I'll ever find my head, again - I'm quite serious about that part!)

    xo

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