Knowlton Church

by AngelaLuisaCory   May 4, 2016


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.

Oh melancholy patchwork quilt
Which hugged my shoulders with such guilt
So beautiful your teardrop dew
As softened breeze embalmed as new.

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.

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.

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.

The trees with ribboned tributes dressed
Their poignant thoughts gently caressed
Upon their roots they scatter seed
Of longing, hope and painful need.

But now the dew has almost gone
Collected by the warming sun
For I am beckoned now away
To stand and face another day.

7


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Latest Comments

  • 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

  • 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

  • 7 years ago

    by Milly Hayward

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

  • 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 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.

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