Daughter No 3 has been here for the day along with her partner and their daughter and what a truly lovely day we have had together hanging out in the garden, having lunch and then a lively walk along the Flat Lode Trail. We haven’t seen them all for many months so this afternoon had its emotional moments.
We spotted a little moth on the down pipe.I think it’s a Striped Twin-spot Carpet moth.
While the grownups were chatting, LiveWire No 4 declared herself bored and her daddy introduced us to a beautiful poem, ” You’re Bored, Child? ” by Felix Dennis, a poet new to me but one I intend to find out more about. Read it aloud, hear the assonance and the alliteration, picture ‘life’s miracle’ unfolding in front of you. I love it!
Look at the birds. Learn to listen to their chatter, Their flitting, twittering flights for no Discernible purpose; the clatter And the cawing of that black crow, The furtive, dry-leaved peck and scrape Of blackbirds blundering in a bush Seeking worms and beetles; the shape Of the wagtail’s wing; the shove and push Of tits among the bacon rinds; The eerie, invisible knock, Knock knock as a woodpecker finds A bark grub; the wheeling starling flock. Look at the birds. Look at the earth. Scoop up a handful in your palm. Not for nothing have men plundered, Murdered, fought and wrought great harm Among their kind — whole empires sundered — Just to own it, or to believe They did. Crumble it. What’s it worth? Ask a farmer stooping to sheave A field of sun ripe wheat. The Earth! The land! Listen, listen to me! The blood of kings lies in your hand, What came before— and what shall be. Think on it. Seek to understand. Look at the earth. Look at the sky. An emptiness? The blue-walled womb Of all that is, of all that ever Grazed or grew or swam — and met its doom — Beneath our tyrant sun. Forever Heaving, blowing, sleeting, snowing, Raining, resting — bringing with the night Its velvet, eerie canvas, glowing With long dead messengers of light. And yet, who looks— with wit to see? Should you take long enough to chart This wheel of time and mystery Life’s miracle will swamp your heart. Look at the sky. You’re bored, child?
nrhatch
August 30, 2020 at 7:29 pm
Great poem.
Nature nurtures.
mybeautfulthings
September 3, 2020 at 1:25 pm
Exactly that, Nancy. 🙂
Hils Bryant
August 29, 2020 at 9:19 am
Fabulous poem!
mybeautfulthings
September 3, 2020 at 1:22 pm
Glad you loved it too. 🙂
Kim Ridgeon
August 28, 2020 at 8:30 pm
Felix Dennis, an Oz trial veteran! Then publisher and poet. I can’t recall the year he died but not that long ago. Very accessible work generally.
mybeautfulthings
September 3, 2020 at 1:22 pm
Yes, I agree, accessible and very pleasing. 🙂
Sue
August 28, 2020 at 7:40 pm
Oh oh oh, wonderful poem. Thank you Sally, and Tom, (and Bluebell for provoking it’s telling)
mybeautfulthings
September 3, 2020 at 1:21 pm
Glad you like it too, a special one indeed and lovely that T introduced it to us. 🙂