Comments : Knowlton Church

  • 7 years ago

    by Ben Pickard

    Hello M

    This is excellent, particularly as I have heard a little of this place (wink)
    I, too, have often been overwhelmed when touching something so ancient; real perspective takes over for those brief seconds - the kind of perspective you wish you could carry with you permanently through life, when you are aware how insignificant you are and how all those problems are only very little problems in the greater scheme of things....but it always seems to evaporate the moment we leave, doesn't it?
    Looking up at the stars on a cloudless night does the trick too, I hear....

    • 7 years ago

      by AngelaLuisaCory

      Thank you Ben! I am so glad you liked this piece. It is how I feel when going to a place like this. You do feel so small in comparison to nature and it does put things into perspective. You are right. It is so hard to remember that feeling once life takes over again, but how amazing to be able to feel it! So many people don't. I use to sit in the trees in a garden in Hertfordshire and spend ages looking at the stars - you are right again - it's almost akin to a type of meditation, which heals the heart. Thank you for your comment.

  • 7 years ago

    by Milly Hayward

    Really enjoyed this poem particularly the sun holding up your careworn face and drawing you to this place of rest and nature.

    Beautiful portrayal of being at one with nature feeling the quietness and small sounds that you don't get to hear in the loud world that we spend most of our time in.

    Also liked the imagery of the trees with ribboned tributes dressed

    I found it to be a beautiful restful poem tinged with sadness. Milly x

    • 7 years ago

      by AngelaLuisaCory

      Thank you Millie. As always, I really appreciate your comments. The ribboned tributes are actually physically left by people in the little copse. Usually for someone lost, or someone going through a terrible time. Quite poignant as there are candles, teddy bears, pictures, too - all sorts. I've taken photos - really lovely there.

  • 7 years ago

    by Em

    Added to faves so. Can comment in full when I've finished work..

  • 7 years ago

    by Dagmar Wilson

    Written with such great beauty and as I am reading I feel great peace. I love to take walks (graveside) and just sit and listen to nature. It gives me peace. Excellent written and it's like music to my ears on not so good day. Take care

    • 7 years ago

      by AngelaLuisaCory

      Hi Dagmar. Thank you so much. Am so pleased I brought a little bit of beauty and peace into your world, especially if you've not had such a god day. I find going to places like Knowlton (Dorset) gives me such peace and pleasure. So sorry if you are having a not so great time .... things do get better, just listen to your heart and get out there into nature.

  • 7 years ago

    by Em

    Hello I am back and I really like this piece. I do yoga and walk for miles in the woods to ease my mind and the birds singing,the trees swaying and the wind blowing all make it serene. Nature is a beautiful thing but many people do not respect it like they should with littering etc which really infuriates me.

    Upon your mossy banks I lay
    As dawn gave birth to piercing day
    To shrug the shroud of such sad plight
    And closed my eyes to fading night.
    ^^
    A beautiful opening. The image here is lovely because I see a troubled person going to a place where they feel safe which makes me ask where is this place and can I come? :)

    Oh melancholily patchwork quilt
    Which hugged my shoulders with such guilt
    Sp beautiful your teardrop dew
    As softened breeze embalmed as new.
    ^^
    More beautiful imagery. The quilt hugging you to keep away the bitter good as it's early. I'm not sure if I'm right but should 'melancholily' be 'melancholy' and there's a typo on 'sp' it should be 'so.'

    The sun held up my careworn face
    And brought me here unto this place
    For peace lies here amongst your mounds
    And safety in your arms abounds.
    ^^
    I love the image here of this place and the sun coming out basically making things better well maybe not better completely but whilst your in the 'safe' place.

    Oh beautiful now night has passed
    As I lie here upon the grass
    I feel as one with all around
    Wrapped in quietness, echoes, sounds.
    ^^
    It's good to be alone with our own thoughts because then we can ease our own minds without the pressure of others.

    I lie upon your standing stone
    And skyward gazed, yet not alone
    I touched in awe your ancient walls
    And listened to their phantom calls.
    ^^
    I loved this part. You're alone but you aren't because you're in your safe place and can say and do anything you like.

    The trees with ribboned tributes dressed
    Their poignant thoughts gently caressed
    Upon their roots they scatter seed
    Of longing, hope and painful need.
    ^^
    This actually took my breath away because we are ruining this earth bit by bit unfortunately.

    But now the dew has almost gone
    Collected by the warming sun
    For I am beckoned now away
    To stand and face another day.
    ^^
    Such a harsh ending because you have to go and face reality again and reality can be horrible but it's good to have that place and time all alone.

    I really do like this piece. Your rhythm and beat make the read smooth which makes it more enjoyable.

    Take care, Em

    • 7 years ago

      by AngelaLuisaCory

      Em. Thank you so much for your time and thoughts - I will correct my typos! I get carried away with emotions. Walking is good, and being at one with our past and nature is wonderful. The ribbons are actual ribbons left by people. This place is a little known place in Dorset, and, of course you can come!

  • 7 years ago

    by Milly Hayward

    Knowing that the tributes actually exists adds even more to the poem. xx

  • 7 years ago

    by Meena Krish

    Judging Comment:

    There is a gentle touch to this read which flows effortlessly
    and takes the reader along on the ride as well. The rhyme schemes
    used sounds smooth to the ears and the simplicity of words used brings alive the images putting the reader there "in that moment".
    Upon your mossy banks I lay
    As dawn gave birth to piercing day
    To shrug the shroud of such sad plight
    And closed my eyes to fading night.
    ^^This opening stanza draws me in and I can see it so
    clearly in my mind. To lie in that place closing one's eye forgetting
    one self as we give in to mother nature's arms. It sets the mood nicely.

    Oh melancholily patchwork quilt
    Which hugged my shoulders with such guilt
    Sp beautiful your teardrop dew
    As softened breeze embalmed as new.
    ^^A typo here melanchoily should be melancholy
    and on the third line: So beautiful instead of sp. Here too
    the stanza shows rather then tells about the moment, emotions
    as well as the objects around her and how it makes her feel.

    Oh beautiful now night has passed
    As I lie here upon the grass
    I feel as one with all around
    Wrapped in quietness, echoes, sounds.

    ^^Another stanza which I like; the slow introduction of change
    in time, mood and atmosphere is done so smoothly without any
    disruptions. In that second line one can feel the gentleness of the
    grass tickling and hugging the body.

    But now the dew has almost gone
    Collected by the warming sun
    For I am beckoned now away
    To stand and face another day.
    ^^The ending of the poem is just perfect and it sums up the story
    just like packing up one's mood, emotions and beauty within you and
    preparing yourself to face another day which has been blessed to you.
    A lovely read.

    • 6 years ago

      by AngelaLuisaCory

      Dear Meena

      Apologies for the delay in replying. Your thorough comment is very much appreciated. I gave up writing and being on this site for a while, but I think the yearning to write has finally come back! Thank you so much for the time you have taken and for your really lovely comments. Angie

  • 6 years ago

    by Matt Taylor

    Very evocative reminds me of "Elegy in a country churchyard" upholds and reinforces the tradition of classic British poetry