Poetry April Arrival

You arrived this day
seven years ago,
all silken hair and velvet skin.

Blackthorn blossom like snowflakes
speckled the hedgerow
Of tangled briars and bright
hawthorn leaves;
Dandelions freckled the fields.

We stopped at the corner
of Station Road,
A Magnolia stellata
dripping waxy white flowers
onto the pavement below.

The cherry blossom
outside the hospital
In exuberant bloom for your arrival.

 

[Julie]

View attachment 8745

You arrived this day
seven years ago,
all silken hair and velvet skin.

Blackthorn blossom like snowflakes speckled the hedgerow
Of tangled briars and bright
hawthorn leaves;
Dandelions freckled the fields.

We stopped at the corner
of Station Road,
A Magnolia stellata
dripping waxy white flowers
onto the pavement below.

The cherry blossom
outside the hospital
In exuberant bloom for your arrival.

Emily, this is beautiful. I love poems that weave in flora. A daughter born? I have to say, I did a double take of the photograph! My first thought was 'How's Emily put up my pic of the magnolia!?' Then, I realised I took a similar one of my own Stellata that I planted in the garden last year! It's such a gorgeous variety - I loved your 'dripping waxy,' - spot on xx

 

[Emily]

Thank you, yes, a daughter born

I absolutely love magnolias! The last Litfest was planned for London 2020 (weep) and I'd hoped to visit the church St. Mary Le Stroud, which has spectacular M. soulangeana trees outside: massive waxy bloom in pinks and cream. I saw them a few years ago when I went to London to see a Titan exhibition and they have stuck with me ever since! I plan on going over for a visit in... Well... One of these years!!!

 

[Julie]

Thank you, yes, a daughter born

I absolutely love magnolias! The last Litfest was planned for London 2020 (weep) and I'd hoped to visit the church St. Mary Le Stroud, which has spectacular M. soulangeana trees outside: massive waxy bloom in pinks and cream. I saw them a few years ago when I went to London to see a Titan exhibition and they have stuck with me ever since! I plan on going over for a visit in... Well... One of these years!!!

They are stunning and so many varieties. In a nearby road, someone has stellata. I think it only grows to about ten feet. This one is almost dome-shaped. Mine is teeny-tiny and I've had to put a little guard around it . . . I caught Francesca munching on one of the little branches.
I'd love to go to Van Gogh Alive The Experience (June 4-Sept 26 2021) in Kensington Gardens - it's an immersive experience - looks amazing from what I've seen.

 

[Emily]

Ooooohhhh. If I'm allowed beyond 5k of my house by then, I might think about popping over!

 

[Julie]

Ooooohhhh. If I'm allowed beyond 5k of my house by then, I might think about popping over!

I've got over-excited myself looking at the website. You can stand in a mirrored sunflower room! Asking husband ((telling really) and inviting myself to stay with youngest daughter who lives in North Wood not far from London.

 

[Emily]

I'm getting excited too!!! I wonder if I could swing it, and get over, could we perhaps squeeze a Litfest in too? (precarious, with all that's going on, I know) @dave.crowther was talking about visiting this side of the world this year too. @Barbara?! ?????

 

[Barbara]

I'm getting excited too!!! I wonder if I could swing it, and get over, could we perhaps squeeze a Litfest in too? (precarious, with all that's going on, I know) @dave.crowther was talking about visiting this side of the world this year too. @Barbara?! ?????

OOOOOHHHHHHHHHH, PLEASE, YES, A LITFEST!!!!

 

[Emily]

Let me just have a chat with our government!!!!!!

 

[Barbara]

Maybe bribe them with cake?

 

[dave.crowther]

I'm getting excited too!!! I wonder if I could swing it, and get over, could we perhaps squeeze a Litfest in too? (precarious, with all that's going on, I know) @dave.crowther was talking about visiting this side of the world this year too. @Barbara?! ?????

What a fantastic thought!

 

[dave.crowther]

View attachment 8745

You arrived this day
seven years ago,
all silken hair and velvet skin.

Blackthorn blossom like snowflakes speckled the hedgerow
Of tangled briars and bright
hawthorn leaves;
Dandelions freckled the fields.

We stopped at the corner
of Station Road,
A Magnolia stellata
dripping waxy white flowers
onto the pavement below.

The cherry blossom
outside the hospital
In exuberant bloom for your arrival.

lovely, Emily. I agree with G- love the use of flower imagery and flower names in poetry.

 

[Ancora Imparo]

You arrived this day
seven years ago,
all silken hair and velvet skin.

Beautiful @Emily! Soon she'll be of an age to appreciate how lovely the poem is, as well as the tree. x

 

[Emily]

Thanks @Ancora Imparo She is our little wildling and spends most of her day out in the fields and hedges and rehoming insects!!

 

[Ancora Imparo]

The acorn didn't fall far from that tree...

 

[Emily]

Apart from the rehoming insects!!

 

[Julie]

Thanks @Ancora Imparo She is our little wildling and spends most of her day out in the fields and hedges and rehoming insects!!

One of my granddaughters loves keeping snails!