Wednesday 28 February 2018
LAMORNA'S MILL, CORNWALL: A NEW POEM...
Lamorna’s Mill
Derelict as death, the Mill,
Bedecked by clinging weed,
Its stone walls cold as a lost corpse,
Had been cruelly eviscerated;
Its weighing scales lay awry and still,
Reddened by dyeing rust,
Their usefulness long forgotten,
Their heritage rudely desecrated;
A tarnished Helston mill-wheel,
Silent, its newer paddles locked,
Hints at the source of freshwater power,
Now lying defective and sadly neglected…
Pete Ray
February 2018
Lamorna’s Mill, neglected.
Having taught at Birmingham’s Sarehole Mill, much restored of course, this building saddened me…
CHAPEL PORTH, CORNWALL: A NEW POEM...
Chapel Porth
The stone-strewn cove, assaulted by fierce offshore winds
And a violent February tide,
Roared a tumultuous grievance,
Its might thrashing its ire to confide…
Atlantic blues and greens rose like insulted fiends,
Their heads hurling wild white spite,
Yet caressed spectrum colour from the winter sun:
Spectacular, beautiful but with fearsome might…
The cove’s small stage harboured this loud, wicked show,
A natural phenomenon, the elements spilling;
The audience was spellbound, excited, in awe,
The breathtaking last act’s climax quite thrilling…
Pete Ray
February 2018
Chapel Porth, close to St Agnes (not Porth Chapel near Porthcurno, of course) was a place I had never been before.
No idea why…
The National Trust’s café was nestled at the back of the cove, a pair of Rock Pipits braved people and annoying dogs to grab any morsels available from the ground but the sea was really wild…
Very strong winds affected the scene but Sunday 25th February will remain memorable for that visit…
Tuesday 27 February 2018
PADSTOW: A NEW POEM... 'THE RED BEAKS'...
The Red Beaks
Fuelling, they stood, sensitive,
Alert, pert,
Ready to scramble;
And then, quite suddenly,
Lifting, drifting,
Adeptly swivelling
Into a ripping gale…
Thus in formation,
An Oystercatcher squadron, emotive,
Arrowed beneath the estuary bridge,
Like jets to intercept an enemy,
Trespassing…
Pete Ray
February 2018
Along the Camel Trail, on the old railway bridge over the river’s estuary, Monday, 26th February.
A bunch of Oystercatchers took off from a sandbank, turned into the strong wind and zipped in formation beneath the bridge like an impression of the Red Arrows…
Their fine plumage in flight was stunning…
 |
| VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE & BELOW: CURLEW, REDSHANK, etc... |
MOUSEHOLE: A NEW POEM & IMAGES...
Cheers: Where Nobody Knows My Name…
When he swaggered into the bar
There was a consensual cry of
“NORM…”
As he took his traditional stool,
Awaiting his customary beer;
The welcome was constant, genuine and
Warm…
When I emerged into the Hole
There was the comforting warmth of
“Hi…”
As I took a vacant table,
Awaiting classy coffee to appear;
The welcome cordial, genuine and
Spry…
Pete Ray
February 2018
Mousehole’s ‘Hole Foods Deli’, always has as friendly a welcome as in the famous American comedy series ‘Cheers’, “…where everybody knows your name…”
Norm would stroll into the bar after work, rather than return straight home to his wife and was greeted with the loud, chorused catchphrase “NORM…”
Excellent stuff…
The Hole Deli’s coffee is superb.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)