June 20th, 2012
W is this week's letter
W is for Windhover and for Weaving
Have I done this before? I might have, - The Windhover by Gerard Manley Hopkins has been one of my most loved poems for many, many years and when I was a passionate Weaver, in my younger days, I called my small enterprise Windhover Weaving and had a great multitude of cards printed, enough for an extensive and expansive enterprise. I sometimes use them for lists now, - not grocery lists, but more important lists
of plans and books and music and suchlike.
They stir fond memories of my Weaving days.
And of my reasons for choosing Windhover Weaving to designate them.
I caught this morning morning's minion,
kingdom of daylight's dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon
in his riding of the rolling level underneath him, steady air, and striding
High there, how he hung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
in his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate's heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, - the achieve of ; the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty, and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
No wonder of it; sheer plod makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion.
Gerard Manley Hopkins
How incredibly beautifully the flight of the Windhover
and equally so the words Hopkins uses to describe it.
For more Words for the letter W click here to go to Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday
with thanks to her, and her Wonderful helpers.
14 comments:
One of my favourite poems too Hildred, in fact one of my favourite poets. I love Heaven Haven too - the older I get the more I love it.
I had to read the poem aloud, to hear the rhymes and feel the rhythm. Poetry is sometimes a struggle for me, but if I connect, I like it a lot. This one soars.
Thank you for the story of your weaving days in combination with the windhover! My English is too basic to understand such a piece of highly qualified poetry. Native speakers are so fortunate to read and understand English without a dictionary! Your post is great!
Thanks for your participation in ABC Wednesday!
Wil, ABC Team.
What a 'wealth' of a post! Great poetry, photography...great visit.
Great post and so cool you were a weaver. That was something I always wanted to do. Carver ABC-Wed. Team
If you used the poem before, it bears repeating.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
How lovely Hildred....in so many ways. The beautiful poem and your pictures .... and the glimpse back into your past...I am sure anyone lucky enough to have one of your pieces is still thrilled with their treasure!
Wow, you weave? How charming! I associate them with fairy tales. The poem is just lovely!
That is a huge loom. What did you weave? It looks big enough for blankets or rugs.
I have to admit I didn't know anything about this poet or the poem but it is lovely. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I was introduced to this poem in English 12--it has been a favorite since then. In these many years I doubt I've understood exactly what Hopkins intended to convey, but the beauty of his words lingers--such imagery.
Weaving is one of the things I never had opportunity to learn--although the process interests me. I think if I had ever created a piece of cloth I would have been loathe to cut it up to be sewn into a garment.
Wish I could experience weaving!
White Eggplant
Rose, ABC Wednesday!
Love the poem - and the Windover Falcon - so elegant - thanks for sharing - Jane UK
I had no idea that you were a weaver! We have quite a few weavers here in NM and a good friend down the street is. I am also good friends with Susan Klebanoff whose weavings are so off the beaten path and incredibly beautiful!
Gosh Paula, you are so lucky to be a friend of Susan Klebanoff, - her work with multiple layers leaves me breathless. She is a true artist, and my weaving has been quite utilitarian, - blankets, rugs, tablecloths and napkins, pillow slips. scarves, etc. etc - although I have tried to make them as creative as possible. I don't use the countermarche anymore - I find it too hard to tie up the treadles now, but it is in my DIL's basement, waiting for her to learn on it. When I weave now it is on a LeClerc four harness floor loom and I have been making silk mats for the past year, using strips of old silk blouses for the weft. I weave very intermittently.....I'm afraid any serious weaving is in my past, but when I look at some of Susan's work I am inspired and think about doing small tapestries.......(sigh)
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