Somerset Scenes
Somerset Scenes
This is a poem celebrating Somerset, a county of England steeped in history, where sit The Mendip Hills, Glastonbury Tor, the Levels (actually below sea level), rivers, estuaries and channels, as well as abundant wildlife. I have lived here for many years now; the people’s accent is slow and kind, the views are spectacular. This county has kept its originality and its indigenous peacefulness, yet it is wild. More than anything, it is welcoming and it is my home.
Somerset Scenes – Poem
Criss-cross rhynes*, blue-grey mirrors
swaying willows softly green reflecting;
Iris stretching yellow splashes
up towards her symmetry the sun;
Warblers nest in secret shelter,
‘mongst reeds and marsh behind the shifting sand;
Heron stands his statued vigil,
lightning-dives, and, broad-winged, flies away.
Wind-flattened grass, craggy lime
high above, and ever higher still
seagulls scream their precious freedom,
acrobats upon the swirling air.
Far below – rich burnt-red furrow,
Curlews on meadow, Martins on rippled sand;
Wind-whipped dunes surveying westward
Waves of mud-froth, flames at end of day.
Waving grass, waving waters,
divided by swathe of marram’d dune;
Waters, subdued, free the meadows,
**Withies woven, orchards scattered wide;
Humans too their power wielding,
harvesting to eat and drink from land;
welcoming, soft-spoken, homely,
live, work, play and here forever stay.
* a rhyne (pronounced ‘reen’) is a man-made ditch forming part of the Levels grid-shaped irrigation system.
** withies are willow lengths for weaving baskets, figures and decorations
Home
I love to travel but I always love to come home – there is comfort in the familiar, in the trees and the wild birds that I love. My garden sits by a bank of willows; the foliage shelters many birds and we offer nest-boxes within the garden to give a few a helping hand.
I would be pleased if you, dear reader, would leave a comment and if you know this area, then tell me of your experiences.
For more works by this author see Ann Carr on The Creative Exiles.
You can also read more works by Ann Carr on Hubpages.
‘Take a Word…’ is a self-publication of stories and poems, designed to encourage others to write creatively, to project their own voice, even create their own words. ISBN: 9798754336476
I'm a member of HubPages (hubpages.com/@annart) which has helped me hone my writing skills.I have published an anthology of stories and poems on the subject of 'words', entitled 'Take a Word!', designed to encourage writers to stretch their boundaries when choosing words.
It's exciting to be a part of a community which has the same passion for writing.
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