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Poetry inspired by the Cornish landscape
[Poetry page 1] [Poetry page 2] [Poetry Page 3] [Poetry 4] [poetry 5] [poetry 6]
Featured poets Clies Stevens, Louise James, Ronnie Goodyear, Penny Lally, Peter Hambly, Rachel McKluskey, Les Merton
More poems and prose this time from Ronnie Goodyer poet from 'The Lizard' and Rachel McClusky who lives with her husband in Yorkshire and like many people have a calling in their hearts towards Cornwall'
On Gwynver Beach by Ronnie Goodyer
Borne Beneath This Sun by Ronnie Goodyer
Perpetual Time by Ronnie Goodyer
On Gwynver Beach by Ronnie Goodyer
Winter winds blast the breakers five lines deep
and whip the top foam to spiral deaths.
She is striding determinedly ahead to nowhere in particular
but drawn to the black cliffs, to the golden mist
trailing from the sun, as rain and night's early clouds
circle and loom, highlighting the contrasts of colour.
Her bobbled hat is alive, her footprints so small
next to mine, her tread so light.
The vulnerability of her busy little frame accentuated by her shadow
falling long on the sparkling sand behind her taller now than she'll be when childhood is over.
Borne Beneath This Sun by Ronnie Goodyer
When the wind doesn’t blow the Coverack coastline and the tide that soaks the shingle doesn’t rise;
then we’ll hide in the hills beneath the harbour,
where I’ll lie beneath the laughter in your eyes.
When the rain drives the sun from sands at Kennack
and the ships that sail the Helford slip away;
then we’ll hide in the skyline of the evening,
where we’ll lie until the breaking of the day.
Porthallow feels the seasons through its breezes
and Porthoustock feels the seasons through its stones;
Godrevy feels the winds that brush the reed-beds,
where the isolation echoes through your bones.
You cannot tell the buzzards to stop wheeling
and you cannot tell the primrose not to flower;
you cannot tell the water to flow gently,
where its waves rise up and crash down with their power.
When the Gillan cliffs grow crazy with gulls’ calling
and the gabbro rock reveals just where we’ve gone;
then we’ll walk the ancient tracks to timeless borders,
where we’re grateful to be borne beneath this sun.
Perpetual Time by Ronnie Goodyer
Perpetual time on a black-sky evening,
entombed in dark and safely sealed;
church-bell chimes dissect the stillness,
while my ancestors’ roam the field.
Perpetual time and the buzzards are diving,
village resounds to the mariners’ cry;
Manacle Rocks the scourge of the vessels,
now home in the churchyard, anchored for life.
Perpetual time in a Cornwall August,
fire from the forges roaring aloud;
here on Lizard’s tumbling landscape,
the ghost of An Gof is standing proud.
Perpetual time and crammed in the box-pews,
men of the village and wives of the men;
called to pray through copse and clearing,
holiday Tennyson wielding the pen.
Perpetual time on a landscape evening,
ancient track-ways are leading the eye
through myths and mists and vibrant tomorrows,
blending as one under Cornwall sky.
Penwith by
Rachel McCluskey
The grass is greener
in our wishing place
where the South West wind tussles ancient land,
and moorland mists hug Zennor Tor
high above bubbling stream of lace.
Where dragonfly wings glisten organza blue,
a dusty path to the enchanted cove
old tales of siren song
and carved mermaid pew.
The grass is greener
winding narrow hedgerow tracks
to settlement built in rolling fields,
as lime lichen glows
from dark fogou cracks.
The most beautiful time I remember
is of you and me
down the cold damp steps of the holy well,
emerging to midday sunlight through trees.
A black dog ran past, no master to be seen
and I left my brass pixie
in mossy rocks
a strong patchouli scent
of sweet clouds floating
beneath canopy of green.
The grass is greener
where the wind-bent tree leans,
embracing lush ferns
in our enchanted glimpse
of the land of our dreams.
More poetry from genius loci
back to cornwall arts and
culture Sue Aston's
is modern
Cornish music, taking and interpreting themes and harmonies letting them be
heard again. It is as relevant as Malcolm Arnold's Padstow Lifeboat and
Cornish Dances and Bax's Tintagel - perhaps more so.
John Colby
Sacred
Landscapes GLCD1001 £10.99 inc P&P [your visa card card will be charged
in your own currency when you receive your statement]
