Saturday 31 March

I'm reading today's poem: "The Donkey" by GK Chesterton.

Friday 30 March

Brenda reads today's poem: "Afterwards" by UA Fanthorpe

There are some of Fanthorpe's poems read by the author on the Poetry Archive web site - click here.

If you missed yesterday's poem scroll down - that, too, was read by the author.

Thursday 29 March

Sorry, this is a day late but it was a busy day yesterday. As compensation, I've found yesterday's poem, "Sheep Fair Day" by Kerry Hardie, read by the author. 

And here's a picture of a local sheep fair - at Thame:

Wednesday 28 March

Today's poem, by Rowan Williams, is "Rublev." It's inspired by a famous Icon by Andrej Rublev.

I found two versions of the Icon, the first must be the original icon:

I couldn't find any reference to the source of this version but it looks as if it has been created from the icon. It shows the angels in much more detail. The faces on all three are the same and I'm reminded of Burne Jones's women who all have the same expression.

Here are some Burne-Jones images:

Today's poem is Skylight by Seamus Heaney. Alfie introduces Brenda reading it.

Monday 26 March

Today's poem is "The Kingdom" by RS Thomas. Rosie reads it

Saturday 24 March

Today's poem is by Adrienne Rich. I'm reading it and Jack introduces me.

Friday 23 March

Today's poem is "On his blindness" by John Milton. The last line is the very famous quotation: "They also serve..."

Thursday 22 March

Brenda reads today's poem

Wednesday 21 March

I'm reading today's poem which is by Emily Dickenson. It has been really difficult to find pictures to go with yesterday's and today's poems so I'm leaving ot to your imagination.

Tuesday 20 March

Today's poem is "The Soul's Garment" by Margaret Cavendish. It's read by Nadine

Monday 19 March

Brenda reads today's poem: "Epitaph" by Sir Walter Raleigh

Saturday 17 March

Carolyn reads today's poem, "The Trees" by Philip Larkin.

Here are some Little Hampden trees - a little later in the year but something to look forward to

Friday 16 March

Today's poem, "Rembrandt's Late Self Portraits" by Elizabeth Jennings, is read by Nadine. 

And here's one of them

Thursday 15 March

Today's poem is "The Moment" by Margaret Attwood. It's read by Rosie.

Listening to this, I was prompted to look outside my front door: it seemed appropriate to look around at what I thought I owned and the surroundings. The daffodils, the well, the wonderful walnut tree - I can see that they found me...

Wednesday 14 March

Today's poem, "A Little Church" by EE Cummings is read by Carolyn. Not surprisingly, the picture is of Little Hampden Church.

Tuesday 13 March

Today it's "Friends' Meeting House, Frenchay, Bristol" by UA Fanthorpe, which I'm reading. 

It's not really about this specific Meeting House, but here's a picture of it:

Monday 12 March

Today's poem is "Pax" by DH Lawrence. It's read by Rosie.

and here's a picture of Topsy "... asleep on a chair at peace, in peace..." 

Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 March

I'm posting three days of readings today - but no cheating!


Thursday is "A Poison Tree" by William Blake. This is Carolyn's first reading.

Here's an apple tree - not poisoned, I hope - to go with it:

Friday's poem is by Gerard Manley Hopkins. I'm reading it. I couldn't think of a picture to go with it, I'm araid.

Saturday's poem, "The Wrong Beds" by Roger McGough is read by Rosie.

Here's a picture of the Aegean I took a couple of years ago:

Wednesday 7 March

Rosie reads today's poem - "It is dangerous to read newspapers" by Margaret Attwood

Tuesday 6 March

Today's poem is "Affliction" by George Herbert, read by me.

Coming out of the affliction - Janet Morley likens this to depression - reminds me of dawn. Here's a Little Hampden dawn from last December:

Monday 5 March

Today's poem is "Alas My Lord" by Christina Rosetti. It's read by Brenda

Saturday 3 March

Another poem introduced by Sarah:

Friday 2 March - update

At last! We have the grandchildren with us so I'm late again with yesterday's poem, "I Saw Him Standing" by Ann Griffiths, translated by Rowan Williams. It's read by Matthew. Sam started to introduce his Dad but Sarah wanted a go as well:

Friday 2 March

Rather behind time today, I'm afraid. So so'll catch up tomorrow. Meanwhile, here is today's poem, "I Saw Him Standing" translated by Rowan Williams from Yr Arglwydd lesu, a poem by Ann Griffiths (1776— 1805).

Under the dark trees, there he stands,

there he stands; shall he not draw my eyes?

I thought I knew a little

how he compels, beyond all things, but now

he stands there in the shadows. It will be 

Oh, such a daybreak, such bright morning,

when 1 shall wake to see him as he is.

He is called Rose of Sharon, for his skin

is clear; his skin is flushed with blood,

his body lovely and exact; how he compels

beyond ten thousand rivals. There he stands

my friend, the friend of guilt and helplessness,

To steer my hollow body over the sea.

The earth is full of masks and fetishes, 

What is there here for me?Are these like him?

Keep company with him and you will know:

no kin, no likeness to those empty eyes. 

He is a stranger to them all, great Jesus. 

What is there here for me?

I know what I have longed for. Him to hold 

me always.

I didn't realise that Rowan Williams was a Welsh speaker.

Thursday 1 March

Today's poem is "The Call" by Charlotte Mew. I found this version on the web at Classic Poetry Aloud. I don't know who is reading it. This site has lots of poems to which you can listen: there are two entry points: 
http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com/
http://classicpoetryaloud.wordpress.com/