Thaw
Over the land freckled with snow half-thawed
The speculating rooks at their nests cawed
And saw from elm-tops, delicate as flower of grass,
What we below could not see, Winter pass.
Edna Longley (editor), Edward Thomas: The Annotated Collected Poems (Bloodaxe Books 2008).
In her comment to the poem, Edna Longley notes that the phrase "delicate as flower of grass" was also used by Thomas in a prose piece titled "Flowers of Frost": "The beeches that were yesterday a brood of giantesses are now insubstantial and as delicate as flowers of grass." Ibid, page 285.
John Nash, "Winter Scene, Buckinghamshire" (1920)
As I have noted before, Michael Longley is an admirer of Edward Thomas's poetry. Thus, it may not be merely a coincidence that he has also written a four-line poem titled "Thaw."
Thaw
Snow curls into the coalhouse, flecks the coal.
We burn the snow as well in bad weather
As though to spring-clean that darkening hole.
The thaw's a blackbird with one white feather.
Michael Longley, The Echo Gate (1979).
Longley's poem is an excellent companion piece to Thomas's poem: his poem looks inward; Thomas's poem looks outward. And "freckled" becomes "flecks." And the "rooks" turn into "a blackbird." But the same territory -- be it inward or be it outward -- is explored by both poets.
John Nash, "Melting Snow at Wormingford" (1962)
4 comments:
S.P.,
What a lovely pairing of poems. And the snow hunkered down in the furrows in the Nash paintings - exquisite. Made my day.
B.R.
B.R.: I'm pleased that you like the poems. Yes, Nash was a master of partially snowy landscapes (along with much else!) -- as you say, his furrows, snow, and green fields are wonderful.
Thanks for visiting again, and for your thoughts.
Ah, what I have missed whilst my phone line has been down for 2 months (2 falling trees . . .) I see I have missed this lovely post of yours, but as I looked out on a landscape robbed of colour by winter, I was reading some Edward Thomas works myself.
Michael Longley is new to me (is he any relation to Edna?) but I liked his take on the theme of the Thaw . . .
Bovey Belle: I saw on Codlins & Cream that you are finally "back on the grid" (as they say). Congratulations! I was hoping I might hear from you.
Yes, the Longleys are related: husband and wife. Michael has quite an interest in Edward Thomas as well: he makes an appearance in half a dozen or so of Longley's poems.
Again, it's good to have you back.
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