ALL IS STILL... (My new poem inspired by Rosanne Barr's fine painting...)

 All Is Still…

(Inspired by Rosanne Barr’s painting…)

The slim delicacy of masts from silhouetted boats prod like needles

At the sunrise, as if to inject ochre, yellow, or amber and invigorate

The horizon, which glows like a conflagration into a stunning blue

Sky, reflected in the shoreline shallows, in its attempt at containment.

Wraiths of cloud, like billowing smoke rise like the discontentment

Of unknown deities from the subtlety of the sky aglow and they glower

At the peace, the serenity and the lustrous theatre in an attempt to infiltrate

The glorious morning and its rich hues and the irrevocable stillness…

Pete Ray…

14th March 2026…

I wrote a poem about another of Rosanne Barr’s paintings, ‘End Of The Day, Brora…’ which I posted on my blog, 15th January 2024…

Maybe check it out… 

Go to the web version of my blog from the link at the bottom of the page on your iPhone version…

The thoughts of an independent source, The Sand Martin...

‘This painting of sky and sea is completely entrancing, calmly capturing so well the exquisite glorious beauty of the natural world. It evokes awe and wonder.

We see the sky ablaze with bright egg yolk golden hues that sweep upwards towards the grey-blue then clear blue sky and slight clouds, all fantastically reflected back into the sea. 

Both sea and sky appear to merge as if one. 

Just five small boats in the lower third section of the painting indicate areas of water. They are delicately depicted in dark brown forming a focus and contrast. Their huge masts reach up towards the heavens and with no sails set it is clearly the end of the day as they appear moored for the night.

One can imagine that similar scenes thousands of years ago would inspire the ancient Greeks to visualize the River Styx as both a goddess and a river. Then at the end of the day when all is still and life has left the corpse, the soul would cross over into the afterlife. 

Indeed millions of the faithful in this day and age believe that when this life on earth ends there is life still to come as the soul moves on. 

Whatever one believes, this splendid painting combines joy, hope and peace. It is simply beautiful and gracefully evokes the calm and peace that we would all hope to feel at the end of each day…’

COVENTRY COLLIERY 1-3 BIRMINGHAM UNITED: THE 28 IMAGE OUT-TAKES FROM HAWKESMILL...

 

RITSON (RIGHT) FINDS IT AMUSING TO GLUE THE BALL TO THE REF'S BOOT...

HARRISON (RIGHT) & REGAN (LEFT) ARE TOLD TO STAND ON ONE FOOT FOR THE TOSS.
YEAH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD, TOO...

EVANS IS STILL NOT SURE ABOUT HIS LACES...

ROONEY IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF WITH EXPOSED SHINS...

I WONDER HOW MANY GOALS JAMES RITSON HAS SCORED WITH HIS LEFT BOOT...

EFFECTIVE WIDE PLAYER WOOTTEN GETS IN A HEADER FOR UNITED, WATCHED BY BRYAN BADU-WA-BADU...

REF: "I DON'T LIKE YOU. JUST GO AWAY."

LOOK BEHIND YOU, DAN, IT'S BRYAN AGAIN...

THE REF HAS WORDS WITH UNITED SKIPPER HARRISON, WHO CARES LITTLE IN TRUTH...

HAVING BLOCKED A COLLIERY SHOT WITH HIS BELLY, BLACKHALL IS REMINDED OF LAST NIGHT'S MEAL...

REGAN APPEARS TO BE RUNNING OFF WITH THE BALL...

THE DANGEROUS WOOTTEN HAS MADE THE SCORE 1-2 TO UNITED...

LOOKS LIKE THE PLAYERS ARE HOPING TO CATCH A BRIDE'S BOUQUET FROM A LOCAL COVENTRY CHURCH...

HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS SOCK, KAVANAGH HEAD-BUTTS SHEPHERD'S ELBOW...

BRYAN BADU HASN'T QUITE GOT THE HANG OF THE CAN-CAN DANCE YET...

ALTHOUGH IN PAIN, SHEPHERD REALISES THAT THE CAMERA IS ON HIM & SO SHOWS GREAT BRAVERY, DESPITE A BAD KNOCK...

A FINE TIME FOR HARRISON TO NEED THE LOO...

HARRISON: "WHO'S THE GAME'S MVP, RITSON?"
RITSON: " ME. OBVIOUSLY..."

GOAL THREE BY SMITH HAS WON THE TIE FOR BIRMINGHAM...

WRIGHT, AS THEY USED TO SAY ABOUT SOME FOOTBALLERS, 'GOT STUCK IN'...

PALMER, RIGHT, WAS SENT ONTO THE PITCH AND HE WAS TALL.
LOW, LEFT, WAS THEN REPLACED...
HMM.

EFFECTIVE, YES?

REGAN'S FACE SAYS IT ALL, AS THE GAME IS OUT OF HIS TEAM'S GRASP, UNLESS HE'S JUST BEEN TOLD THAT THE BAR HAS RUN OUT OF BEER...

WOOTTEN DOESN'T LIKE THAT BALL MUCH...

RITSON PINS A BADGE ONTO GOALIE MUKWAMA'S JERSEY, WHICH READS,
'NOISY BUGGER OF THE DAY'...

RITSON, CENTRE, MUMBLES AT WRIGHT, LEFT,
"THAT MY GOOD FELLOW WAS RATHER A NAUGHTY LITTLE CHALLENGE ON BLACKHALL. DO BETTER..." 

THIS WAS BRILLIANT...
BLACKHALL LIES INJURED OFF THE PITCH NEAR THE END OF THE TIE BUT THE OFFICIALS STOPPED THE GAME TO ALLOW TREATMENT TO BE ADMINISTERED. 
THIS INFURIATED THE COLLIERY COACHES & ONE WAS DISMISSED BY A VERY ANGRY REFEREE.
HOWEVER, AS THE TREATMENT CONTINUED, THE GAME RESTARTED ANYWAY! 
ALL VERY SILLY...

COLLIERY ENJOY TIFF'S EQUALISER.
ONE MOMENT TO SAVOUR, I GUESS...

COVENTRY COLLIERY 1-3 BIRMINGHAM UNITED: THE LINK TO 22 MINUTES OF VIDEO ACTION + FULL COMMENTARY...

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS MESSAGE TO GO TO THE 22 MINUTES OF VIDEO ACTION WITH FULL COMMENTARY...

READY TO HUDDLE, UNITED...

AN INJURED UNITED PLAYER, AN ASSISTANT & COLLIERY'S TENNANT...

BRYAN BADU-WA-BADU'S SINGING ISN'T IMPRESSING HIS TEAM-MATES...

THE CURSE OF SLIP-ON SHOES FALLS UPON JASON EVANS & HIS MALFUNCTIONING BOOT LACES...

GREAT TO SEE SCOTT HAMMOND (12) AGAIN, THOUGH HIS DANCE MOVES LOOK A LITTLE NAFF THESE DAYS... 

THE DUGOUT SIDE, BEFORE THE CURSING BEGAN...

THE FACILITIES...

BARCELONA NET...

THE PYDOG HAS AN EXPRESSION OF SURPRISE ON HIS FACE...

THE BODGING LOOKS A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE...

MIND'S EYE SALTMARSH... (My new poem inspired by Hannah Blackmore's painting...)

 Mind’s Eye Saltmarsh…

(My new poem inspired by Hannah Blackmore’s painting…)

It is as I imagine it. Such a memorable, uncomfortable thrill. 

A feeling of uncertainty. A destination unseen, wondering where

Life might lead. A mist of hope’s clarity, a future unclear,

Where a mere semblance of light grips the dank, harsh Grasses of salt-marsh, its pallid weak gleam maybe cast upon a pool,

Shimmering for waders, like a fidgety redshank, a stalking egret, the eerie call

Of a curlew, or a fussy train-whistle oystercatcher, its long, red bill 

Inserted deep into a slimy creek, with a stark red-eyed stare.

And the silence is palpable, the North Sea having withdrawn, as if in fear 

Of what might lurk and threaten upon this inhospitable marsh.

The feeling of insecurity here is palpable, the tall reeds shivering at the cruel

Wilderness which yet attracts and beguiles, and for me is held in thrall…

Pete Ray…

13th March 2026…

The painting really did remind me of north Norfolk’s salt marshes on a misty morning, the light perhaps upon a pool, where wading birds gather.

I have been here at Wells-next-the-Sea for a week and this painting was similar to how the marshes appeared on two of the mornings.

Love the work of this artist…

The thoughts of an independent source, The Sand Martin...

‘This gentle calming view with muted shades merging imperceptibly together is completely mesmerising. What might be the sky and the ground are almost seen as one.

It appears as if two thirds of the painting is possibly a subtle sky in shades of pale grey with some areas almost white, which seem to focus the eye. 

The gradual amalgamation of what might be sky into what could be water is virtually impossible to detect, such is the skilful blending of colour to give a misty quality that is almost spiritual in nature. 

Similarly the areas of what might be marsh to each side and in the foreground of the painting merge imperceptibly into the ‘watery’ area. 

A bright band of white brings attention to what could be surf or a heavier sea mist perhaps. The precise location of possible areas of land, sea and sky are unclear and ethereal in this very atmospheric watercolour.

In such places the imagination can run wild with fright and terror. This has been used to great literary effect for example by Charles Dickens. One recalls the horrific appearance of the felon at the beginning of ‘Great Expectations’ as he emerged from the camouflage and hiding place offered by a marsh to the terror of the young Pip.

Salt marshes hold a danger underfoot for the unwary who may easily become disorientated by the moving haze. 

Is this perhaps an allegory for life that we have an idea of what lies ahead but the way is unclear and difficult to detect? 

Like the trials in ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’, will we be beset by troubles simply by moving forward through life? Or should one step back and admire the glory of the view produced by Mother Nature with awe and wonder? 

This beautiful painting most certainly inspires one to appreciate the natural beauty of our Earth and the skill of the artist…’