BBC Radio Cumbria said celandines are making a comeback, of which Wordsworth would be proud (To The Small Celandine).
Unfortunately, just along the road from Radio Cumbria, there's a flowerbed full of them that's been ruined by some Council employee with a strimmer - he's beheaded the lot, and damaged the other plants that are supposed to make up the display. The whole thing looks a "reet scrow" as a result.
So I wrote this in about five minutes flat, as I waited for a meeting at work, and emailed it to the studio.
It's tough tae be a celandine in canny auld Carlisle. We cannat grow in t' Council beds tae mek the people smile. We grow amang the hyacinths an' primulas so bold, by t' traffic lights on Shaddongate, our yellow, to their gold. Just as we raise our bonnie heeds tae shine tae best effect, a man wi't strimmer comes along an' strims us off be t' neck. But tek gud heed, ye council men who so suppress our cheer -
our tubers lie beneath the grund an' we'll be back next yeer! |
Watto FP
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 3rd April 2007 | What is a "Celandine"
PS I enjoyed the pome.
Brian | Hi BRN
Written by fellpony (1573 comments posted) 3rd April 2007 | it's them little yeller jobs with or twelve petals, growing in the hedge bottoms at this time of year.
THE SMALL CELANDINE
THERE is a Flower, the lesser Celandine,
That shrinks, like many more, from cold and rain;
And, the first moment that the sun may shine,
Bright as the sun himself, 'tis out again!
When hailstones have been falling, swarm on swarm,
Or blasts the green field and the trees distrest,
Oft have I seen it muffled up from harm,
In close self-shelter, like a Thing at rest.
But lately, one rough day, this Flower I passed
And recognised it, though an altered form, 10
Now standing forth an offering to the blast,
And buffeted at will by rain and storm.
I stopped, and said with inly-muttered voice,
"It doth not love the shower, nor seek the cold:
This neither is its courage nor its choice,
But its necessity in being old.
"The sunshine may not cheer it, nor the dew;
It cannot help itself in its decay;
Stiff in its members, withered, changed of hue."
And, in my spleen, I smiled that it was grey. 20
To be a Prodigal's Favourite--then, worse truth,
A Miser's Pensioner--behold our lot!
O Man, that from thy fair and shining youth
Age might but take the things Youth needed not!
1804.
| Oh one of them
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 3rd April 2007 | I can rest in peace,
Brian |
Written by Phil (6635 comments posted) 3rd April 2007 | Checked out WW on onlineliterature.com. This one's the least dull of the lot. Clearly one of his many half hours between moments of lucidity.
Yours may not have the gravitas of Wordsworth, nor the pretension, but I like it.
Apologies to WW lovers. It takes all sorts you know.
Phil. | The Celandine
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 3rd April 2007 | | Well written fellpony. I have to say that we all love the celandine, the dandelion, the buttercup and daisy - as long as they grow anywhere except in our gardens. And yet, when you look at their lovely little faces, they radiate as much colour and joy as any cultivated flower. How can we let them know that their places are in the countryside? | thanks Josie
Written by fellpony (1573 comments posted) 3rd April 2007 | as an amateur botanist since I was 10, I don't actually mind where I see these plants - I only draw the line at dockens, thistles, and nettles, though I do get rid of dandelions from the rock garden.
I have LOTS of celandines in mine, both singles and doubles.
And seventeen varieties of daffodil, too.
That's only another way of saying I'm a really lazy gardener.
| Very nice, flower!
Written by wltshr (300 comments posted) 3rd April 2007 | It had everything and did so sparingly.
Enjoyed the use of language, regional accent, and humour.
I will now leave the poetry section for those of you who can actually write the stuff.
Regards
Wlthsr
|
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 3rd April 2007 | I think celandines are beautiful, but they are just too exuberant. They have taken over my rhubarb and red currant patch. Reading your poem, though, I felt guilty: I've been digging up celandines, daisies and creeping buttercup the better part of the morning.
Nice poem, fellpony. | Celandines in Oz...
Written by patterjack (1159 comments posted) 3rd April 2007 | ... are only in the lines of Wordsworth , as far as I can discover. The country is too hot and dry for it to become another of the introduced curses up with which we have had to put .
Now Paterson's Curse is another matter . Echium plantageneum
or Riverina bluebell , blueweed or purple bugloss is a menace , though beautiful in huge paddocksful . I remember seeing a hillside near Wagga covered with it intermingled with some golden flowers , and was immediately reminded of the Assyrian hordes.
Echium , in South Australia, is also known as Salvation Jane , and was , ironically , used as fodder .
But I think we can do without the Celandine , Greater or Lesser !
patterjack |
Written by gutterkitty (362 comments posted) 15th April 2007 | | Don't know what celandines are either, but I loved this! The way you use the accent to give the flower a character of its own is great. The ryhme and the ending are perfect too. |
Only registered users can rate and write comments.
Please login or register. Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
Previous item
