Tags
affair, church bell, heather, loss, October, pagan, Peaks, poetry, remorse, Sca Fell, sheep, tears, unrequited
The mossy skin of stark stone walls,
a breath of clouds in a cold October sky,
the haunting call of the hovering kestrel.
The bleak love affair with the unyielding Peaks.
The tangled sheep huddled against the cold North wind,
wool kissed barbs of boundaries breeched,
the wandering yew abandoned on the verge of betrayal.
The dark love affair with the relentless Peaks.
Sca Fell, Peaks probe the gloomy skies,
the bursting spring cascades to punish rocks beneath,
purple rinse resilience of old heather hair.
The stark love affair with the unwieldy Peaks.
Shadows play hide and seek with rocks and hills.
The mournful cry of an old church bell
calls back the congregation of fallen sheep,
to worship the affair with pagan Peaks.
The low slung fog smothers both road and fell,
hushed tones hold the secrets of the hills.
Heaviness hangs as breath is caught,
to hide the love affair of unrequited Peaks.
The wind whispers of its long lost love.
The rain cries bitter tears of remorse.
The pitch black blanket of love wraps around
to shroud the love affair of mourning Peaks.
Â
© Love Affair 2012
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
I know that area, and this evokes it beautifully
Aw thank you – I was aiming for a Wuthering heights atmosphere 🙂
Totally nailed it. I just thought, how Wuthering Heights, and then i scrolled down your post. whether, i am walking in the peaks, Lakes or Yorshire and its autumn, cold and when I am wandering over a particular bit of wilderness. I always think of Cathy and Heathcliffe. One of my favourite books/
Thank you – I studied WH for my A level lit and GCSE. I’ve lost count how many times I have read it. By the end I was thoroughly fed up with the whole bunch of characters!! I’ve just bought the latest DVD adaptation of WH and I must say I LOVE it! Finally Heathcliff cast as a black man! About time!!!
I havn’t seen it yet, I was so disappointed with the ITV versions…I’ve given up thinking they will ever capture the book. None of the leader characters are respectable in their behaviour, barely likeable either.But, thats the power of the book, in complete contrast to P&P which is so light, it floats.
I agree – the new dvd captures the raw nature and the constant rain, it’s very bleak – it misses a lot of the book out and Cathy and Heathcliff both come across as likeable characters. I love it for the nature and the elemental part!
A beautiful picture with the most appropriate picture. I loved it!
-Naima.
Thank you Naima. It’s a beautiful area 🙂
you nailed the wuthering heights atmosphere…wonderful!!!
Thank you David – I probably missed out the relentless rain and storms though!! 🙂
Yes, atmospheric. I like the echo in the end line of each stanza.
Thank you Polly 🙂
I also thought of Wuthering Heights – but also memories of hiking and walking in the Peak District (and yes sometimes in lashing rain and fog!)…
Another brilliant poem Alex
Thanks Wendy! I entered this into a magazine competition but alas it did not get a mention 😦
🙂
Keep trying…
Aw thank you – I will 🙂
Dear Fellow Blogger, I would like to nominate you for the Sunshine Award. Please visit my post for further information:
http://thewondrousdharma.com/2012/05/30/sunshine-award/
Congratulations!
Thank you Arjuna – thank you so much!! 😀
Pingback: Worldly Winds
Wonderfully wild. Wildly romantic. Virginia
Thank you – that was what I was aiming for 😀
Alex 😀
Reblogged this on Worldly Winds.
Definitely got the Wuthering Heights setting and mood here. This is lovely.
Thank you very much 🙂
Oh my.. This is so ethereal, soft, lovely and haunting.. I find this style of poem with such a wonderful theme and essence very soothing and peace giving.. I really enjoy your work:) caro
Thank you Caro. This was the first of my poems that was published. It was inspired by the Peak District and the novel Wuthering Heights 🙂