Thank you, Imogen, for another beautiful delivery of words. I shall be ordering Flatlands immediately. I’ve not heard of Victor Tapner before but I think his poetry will speak to me profoundly (I live on the Suffolk-Essex border). You asked for words that had a particularly deep effect on people and a line that always leaps to my mind is ‘a petrel flew in the rain’. The words come from The Ice Shirt, by William T Vollman, a novel that imagines the incursion of Norse people into what came to be called North America, in the 10th century. It’s full of weather and ice and storms and harshness, and this line so completely encapsulates the mood of it: you can feel the driving rain and the cold and see the grey sky and you know how indifferent the weather is to the fragile humans below.
Thank you so much Nikki, both for your lovely comment and for responding to my request for favourite lines. I haven’t heard of the book you mention either, but will definitely check it out. Substack at its best, when we can give each other recommendations! If you live on the Suffolk-Essex border especially, I think you will love Flatlands. I look forward to hearing how you get on with it x
Thank you Imogen, for such a lovely collection. I love ‘Marsh Bride’, and the ‘trail of heron feathers’. Heron is my special friend - he has appeared to me many times and brought me comfort during sadness and has encouraged me to be still, until the worst is over. Amazing information about toads! I must learn more! Thanks also for introducing me to Victor Tapner’s poetry - for seasonal appropriateness and ‘discomfort’, it puts me in mind of Ted Huges’ November - “month of the drowned dog”. I find this poem jarring and depressing, and yet I revisit it often in the winter. If I want to feel better, I read Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese. Have a wonderful day, and enjoy your magical garden x
Thank you for reading, and for your thoughtful comment Lindsay. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and can find a place for Victor Tapner’s poetry in your life as I too have done. It’s lovely to hear of your connection with heron, one of my own special totems too. I have sometimes watched their stillness and reflected how much we can learn from them about not feeling we should be doing this or that or worrying about how to prioritise things. A heron is just busy being a heron and standing still and watching and that’s all there is to it x
I’m going to do the tree practice! I’ve been visiting a park nearby, where an old oak and pine grow side by side, not as ancient as yours but they are my friends.
I wish I knew more about my maternal line. I know the women come from Lincolnshire but I know nothing of the geography of the district. I shall have to research
The landscape of Lincolnshire does vary dramatically between the Wolds which are rolling hills, the flat agricultural lands and the marshy fen. If you can find out any place names I may be able to help x
I have a special oak tree on the path next to the canal. I always stop and say hello and goodbye on my way back. I always look out for it when I pass in the car and I can, if I lean out, see it from my bedroom window. In all these years I’ve never named it but next time I’m up there, we’ll have a chat and choose a suitable name.
How beautiful that you can actually see ‘your’ oak tree from your bedroom window. That’s a special connection in itself. I expect when you have your chat the tree itself will give you inspiration for a suitable name. That’s so nice to hear about! Thank you Tracy x
I went there today and felt the name Wyndham. I looked it up when I got home and it means “ Wyman's hamlet; Hamlet near the winding way. Wyndham is a lofty British name that can be traced back to an ancient family in Norfolk, England, descended from a noble Saxon. As a handsome surname and personal name, Wyndham means “Wyman's hamlet” or “hamlet near the winding way,” describing a peaceful village”. A good name for a strong tree but it feels a little sad: it’s the only tree in a hedgerow, separated from the woods by an old, well kept canal but I know their roots go very deep and very far so I hope it’s not as stranded as it looks.
How interesting that that name floated into your head. Wymondham in Norfolk is pronounced Wyndham and is where Robert Kett came from. Two very ancient and atmospheric Norfolk oaks are associated with Kett’s Rebellion so the links are strong. It’s as if your oak was also speaking to you of strength and resilience so I am sure it is managing to stay connected to the wood on the other side of the canal. Thank you for telling me; it’s lovely to hear that you and your oak now know each other’s names, and we all know the power of a name x
Ha ha. Not a problem when there is so much magical beauty in your words you really are a beautiful wordsmith ….. I shall speak those words to the oak over the road. From my bedroom window as I can’t actually get to it. As it’s living on a lawn but I shall throw the words and it will catch them.
I’m glad I haven’t ruined a beautiful friendship Mary 😊
Thank you for your kind words and I’m delighted to think of another oak tree getting some special attention and love. I’m sure it will work both ways between you x
I whooped with glee when I saw a recipe included! 😁 scrolled quickly to see and then went back to slowly read. I love the inclusion of recipes and try to make each one xx
Thank you, Imogen, for another beautiful delivery of words. I shall be ordering Flatlands immediately. I’ve not heard of Victor Tapner before but I think his poetry will speak to me profoundly (I live on the Suffolk-Essex border). You asked for words that had a particularly deep effect on people and a line that always leaps to my mind is ‘a petrel flew in the rain’. The words come from The Ice Shirt, by William T Vollman, a novel that imagines the incursion of Norse people into what came to be called North America, in the 10th century. It’s full of weather and ice and storms and harshness, and this line so completely encapsulates the mood of it: you can feel the driving rain and the cold and see the grey sky and you know how indifferent the weather is to the fragile humans below.
Thank you for your words and inspiration!
Thank you so much Nikki, both for your lovely comment and for responding to my request for favourite lines. I haven’t heard of the book you mention either, but will definitely check it out. Substack at its best, when we can give each other recommendations! If you live on the Suffolk-Essex border especially, I think you will love Flatlands. I look forward to hearing how you get on with it x
Thank you Imogen, for such a lovely collection. I love ‘Marsh Bride’, and the ‘trail of heron feathers’. Heron is my special friend - he has appeared to me many times and brought me comfort during sadness and has encouraged me to be still, until the worst is over. Amazing information about toads! I must learn more! Thanks also for introducing me to Victor Tapner’s poetry - for seasonal appropriateness and ‘discomfort’, it puts me in mind of Ted Huges’ November - “month of the drowned dog”. I find this poem jarring and depressing, and yet I revisit it often in the winter. If I want to feel better, I read Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese. Have a wonderful day, and enjoy your magical garden x
Thank you for reading, and for your thoughtful comment Lindsay. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and can find a place for Victor Tapner’s poetry in your life as I too have done. It’s lovely to hear of your connection with heron, one of my own special totems too. I have sometimes watched their stillness and reflected how much we can learn from them about not feeling we should be doing this or that or worrying about how to prioritise things. A heron is just busy being a heron and standing still and watching and that’s all there is to it x
I’m going to do the tree practice! I’ve been visiting a park nearby, where an old oak and pine grow side by side, not as ancient as yours but they are my friends.
Age is as nothing where friendship is concerned! I hope the practice helps to deepen the relationship on both sides x
I wish I knew more about my maternal line. I know the women come from Lincolnshire but I know nothing of the geography of the district. I shall have to research
The landscape of Lincolnshire does vary dramatically between the Wolds which are rolling hills, the flat agricultural lands and the marshy fen. If you can find out any place names I may be able to help x
The words Fen and Wold sound so ‘romantic’. We don’t use those names here. I guess the word swamp or marsh is used.
I have a special oak tree on the path next to the canal. I always stop and say hello and goodbye on my way back. I always look out for it when I pass in the car and I can, if I lean out, see it from my bedroom window. In all these years I’ve never named it but next time I’m up there, we’ll have a chat and choose a suitable name.
How beautiful that you can actually see ‘your’ oak tree from your bedroom window. That’s a special connection in itself. I expect when you have your chat the tree itself will give you inspiration for a suitable name. That’s so nice to hear about! Thank you Tracy x
Beknight the crusts of adguon
I went there today and felt the name Wyndham. I looked it up when I got home and it means “ Wyman's hamlet; Hamlet near the winding way. Wyndham is a lofty British name that can be traced back to an ancient family in Norfolk, England, descended from a noble Saxon. As a handsome surname and personal name, Wyndham means “Wyman's hamlet” or “hamlet near the winding way,” describing a peaceful village”. A good name for a strong tree but it feels a little sad: it’s the only tree in a hedgerow, separated from the woods by an old, well kept canal but I know their roots go very deep and very far so I hope it’s not as stranded as it looks.
How interesting that that name floated into your head. Wymondham in Norfolk is pronounced Wyndham and is where Robert Kett came from. Two very ancient and atmospheric Norfolk oaks are associated with Kett’s Rebellion so the links are strong. It’s as if your oak was also speaking to you of strength and resilience so I am sure it is managing to stay connected to the wood on the other side of the canal. Thank you for telling me; it’s lovely to hear that you and your oak now know each other’s names, and we all know the power of a name x
Good morning. I really enjoy your words and finding new things but ….. I’m sorry I had to skip the toads bit 😊 xxxx
Oh Mary, I am so sorry, I should have written to warn you about the toads. I had forgotten how similar they are to frogs 😬
Ha ha. Not a problem when there is so much magical beauty in your words you really are a beautiful wordsmith ….. I shall speak those words to the oak over the road. From my bedroom window as I can’t actually get to it. As it’s living on a lawn but I shall throw the words and it will catch them.
I’m glad I haven’t ruined a beautiful friendship Mary 😊
Thank you for your kind words and I’m delighted to think of another oak tree getting some special attention and love. I’m sure it will work both ways between you x
I whooped with glee when I saw a recipe included! 😁 scrolled quickly to see and then went back to slowly read. I love the inclusion of recipes and try to make each one xx
That’s so lovely to hear, Robyn and it really makes a difference to know that the recipes are being tried out. Do let me know how it goes! X
Where is groos that lines the arch