The Lake Isle of Innisfree

This is one of my all-time favourite poems -'The Lake Isle of Innisfree' by the great W.B.Yeats.

"Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power. Poetry is boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words." (Paul Engle)

William Butler Yeats (1865 –1939)

 Yeats's words transport me to his ideal place, Innisfree, in County Sligo, Ireland, so that I see, hear and feel it. It's as though I am standing there by that cabin of his dreams with the landscape around me. 

He also conveys the deep longing he feels when he is away from the place and in the city.  There, he is hemmed in by buildings, and swamped by the noise and bustle. But still, deep within his mind and soul is Innisfree, vivid and alive.

The sentiments of the poem resonate strongly with me as I too have my ideal place amid the fields and mountains, with lake water lapping, and peace and solitude.

We, each of us, have our own place that is special to us.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree 

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,

And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;

Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,

And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,

Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;

There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,

And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;

While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,

I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

Here's the poem read by the man himself at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGoaQ433wnw

And here it is set to music by Mike Scott and The Waterboys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GMFJi7Z8Ow

I hope you enjoy The Lake Isle of Innisfree by WB Yeats in whichever format you choose to experience it 

The Promise of Spring

February 1st - St Brigid's Day and Imbolic. Spring, bringing new life, is just around the corner.

Today is St Brigid’s Day. It’s also Imbolc, an ancient festival to mark the arrival of Spring. Celtic in origin, it is symbolised by the image of Winter as an old crone being handed over to a young maid, Spring.  Nature was central to Celtic life and beliefs and Brigid, though a nun and founder of churches and schools, was close to nature.  Unlike other European countries, Ireland welcomes the first day of spring on  Feb 1st.  The days are gradually lengthening and the darkness is being slowly pushed back.


We are living through dark times at present, not only in terms of the natural cycle of the year, but economically, socially, politically, spiritually and morally.  We are in desperate need of light, life and a new beginning. Though of different traditions, one Christian and the other pagan, the ideals are strikingly similar. 


Below are 2 blessings – one from each tradition.  They hope and pray for peace, charity, mercy, wisdom and love – all things we and our world desperately need now. If we all hold these ideals in our hearts, we too can push back the darkness and create a new spring and new beginnings.



Happy Feb 1st to you all, whoever you are, wherever you’re from, whatever the colour of your skin, whatever your beliefs or religion. 

"I would like an abundance of peace. I would like full vessels of charity. I would like rich treasures of mercy. I would like cheerfulness to preside over all."

St. Brigid of Kildare (451 - 523)

"Blessed be the earth, and all who dwell upon it.
We give thanks for the season now departing from us,
For the blessings it has bestowed upon us,
And upon those with whom we share this world.


Blessed be the new season.
We pray that it will be a time filled with peace,
With abundance, with prosperity,
With wisdom,
With love.


Blessed be all who share this feast.
Let us now prepare for the time ahead
By opening our hearts, and our minds, and our spirits.

Blessed be."


(Imbolc Blessing)

You could do worse than...

What is the best way to spend the day?  You could do worse than...

To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell,

To slowly trace the forest's shady scene,
Where things that own not man's dominion dwell,
And mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been;

To climb the trackless mountain all unseen,
With the wild flock that never needs a fold;

Alone o'er steeps and foaming falls to lean;

This is not solitude, 'tis but to hold
Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unrolled.

 

(extract from Solitude, Lord Byron)

Up Close to Nature

Getting away from it all in Cumbria...

"Keep close to Nature's heart...

 

 

and break clear away, once in awhile, 
and climb a mountain  

 

or spend a week in the woods.   

Wash your spirit clean."

                                               

                                                                                                 

(John  Muir, 1838-1914)