In his masterpiece ‘The Shepherd’s Calendar‘, John Clare reminds us of traditional English rural life through the changing seasons. Those were hard times of course, yet they had something precious that today we seem to have lost.
Continue reading “Winter’s Evening with John Clare”
Autumn will soon be dressing the skirt of trees around Arundel Castle as it towers over the quaint streets of the town clustered below. For 900 years this symbol of power and permanence has silently watched the river Arun’s steady flow past.
Continue reading “Autumn in Arundel”
Recently when asked on BBC’s ‘Desert island Discs‘ which book, apart from the Bible and Shakespeare, would he take if stranded on that imaginary desert island, the writer Robert Macfarlane chose the writing and poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins. Though virtually unknown in his life-time, today Hopkins has many admirers.
Continue reading “Gerard Manley Hopkins -the ultimate harvest”
Early morning Spring mist veils the waking landscape with the uncluttered freshness and innocence of a new day. What could be better than to spend the day with John Clare walking beside my favourite local Arun river.
Continue reading “A Spring Day with John Clare”
A Listening Heart 