Ode to the Countryside! ;-)

Poetry isn't everyone's cup of tea but I've always

loved it and I enjoy teaching it.

I have also had fun writing it, in the past.

And so, when I happened to spy this lovely book

in the National Trust shop, in Wells, I picked it up

and browsed.

This book celebrates the countryside.

There are sections on rural life; the changing seasons and 

the woodlands and seascapes of our beautiful country

 and the wildlife which inhabit them.

A variety of poets are included and, alongside 

the beautiful words on each page, are stunning pictures which come from

various sources such as The National Railway Museum,

The London Transport Museum and certain private collections....

Frank Newbould being one of my favourite illustrators!

I suppose that any poetry book which is based on nature

 and the seasons, has to include the famous 'Daffodils' poem

by William Wordsworth.

I believe that Robert Herrick's message, in his work,

is that life is short; the world is beautiful; and that we must

 use the time we have, to make the most of it.

Too true!

This poem jumped out at me as I always

fancied being a village schoolmistress!!

My dream job has always been to

work in the village school in Miss Read's books! ;-)

Maybe I would have lived somewhere like this:

Many poems have been written about the Spring time

and here's a lovely example from Arthur Hugh Clough:

Matthew Arnold was actually both a school inspector and a poet

and he was the son of the famous Thomas Arnold, 

who was headmaster at Rugby School.

Here's his take on Oxfordshire:

George Crabbe had the time to be a surgeon and a clergyman...

 as well as write poetry! Maybe it was his escape from

his 'real' work.

We all need escapes.

John Clare has to be one of my favourite poets.

'I Love to see the Summer' (or to give it its proper name, Sonnet),

being my very favourite poem.

However, it is one of his winter poems featured in this book:

A little more of Spring...

And here's Thomas Hardy, watching a Blackbird:

And off we go to Grasmere with Christina Rossetti!

Being the elder brother of Alfred Tennyson, I'm not surprised that Charles

was also a poet. Maybe he taught his younger brother all he knew!

I know little about this next poet...but am willing to find out!

I love the illustration, chosen to accompany this poem.

And finally another poem by... John Clare.

What I like about his poetry is that is is so simply written

and that, to me, sits so well with nature.