We are back at the riverside cottage that we first rented last May. The views across the ebbing and flowing river, exposing saltmarsh and tiny islets of grass and reed are stunning. For me, it is a veritable paradise that makes me want to write and paint, to versify and create, and, given the amazing late April weather to just ‘be’ and revel in the beauty of the place.
So, within hours of arrival, a first draft of the following poem had emerged, followed by an enjoyable but challenging few hours, here and there, to edit the less satisfying word usage that is almost inevitable amongst any first flush of ideas. The outcome, I’ve entitled Riverscape Delight.
We are privileged to be able to delight
in the light,
which bathes the estuary,
gently, gently, gently.
Each minute:
indeed,
in every moment of this special evening,
there is change,
which merits
the tripping
of yet another shutter-fall
to capture a microcosm
of the awesome beauty
of this exquisite place.
(and this is repeated every evening of every day,
as it has been for millennia).
For a while pink predominates
as the tide ebbs,
causing shallow ponds
to emerge, as the water recedes.
Dark shapes,
wheel, flutter and descend gently
to the water’s edge,
to forage whilst the light allows.
Sundown turns to dusk,
and dusk to darkness.
The riverscape is blanketed
with a peace
that millions can only dream of.
We are mightily blessed.
There is an earlier written companion poem to this called Cottage on The Cliff written in September last year
