M1
North, dark, Friday night
Snowflakes, butterflies
Swarming,
flit, dead, straight,
Warp speed
[Brrrrrrrum]
Campsite
Head torch, frosted ground,
Tent up, zip, boots off,
Sleeping bag, hood up
Cold nose
[Brrrrrrrrrr]
Morning
Yawning, steaming tea,
Foot path, stile, long strides,
Drifting snow, knee deep
Up hill
[Wheeeeeze]
Mam Tor
Eye sore, hidden, Hope
Snow balls, fight, big smiles,
Laughing eyes, slide down,
Lose Hill
[Wheeeeeeee!]
Win Hill
Steep climb, breathing deep
Sleet, cold, dark, grey sky
Black and white, crags, snow
Edale
[Silence]
Nags Head
Hot fire, steaming socks
Warm beer, hot stew, good.
Clearing sky, bright stars,
Great Bear
[Zzzzzzzzzzz]
Cold night
Freezing, minus five,
Up, out quick, sun rise
Glowing, red, pink, white
New dawn
[Yaaaay!]
Derwent
Blue sky, winter trees
Dark branch weighs white snow
Stretching up, big dam
Zig zag
[Paaaant]
What path?
Lost Lad, angels play
View from Back Tor, lunch,
Climbing slip, Dove stone
Diamonds
[Ooooo!]
Snow cave
Hard path, aching feet
Melt ice, pass the Salt
Setting sun, blush glow
White Tor
[Cruuuuunch!]
Wheel stones
Grit stone, climbing high
Cross roads, find path down
Singing song, walk done
Ice cream!
[Hurrrrrah!]
Home, hot bath, sleep well!
(by Sally)
This is a poem about a snowy camping and walking weekend in February in the High Peak, Derbyshire. There was increasing excitement on the journey north as the snow began to fall and settle. We pitched the tents on snow in the dark. Saturday brought grey skies and a monochrome landscape. Clear dark sky at night made the constellations glow. Sunday, began with beautiful sunrise, then a clear blue sky which made the snow sparkled like millions of diamonds. Simply magical! These are two of my favourite walks, ever, which I have done many times in different seasons. I could wax lyrical about them for hours but thought I’d try something a bit different.
ReplyDeleteNotes:
Day 1: Circular walk 12 miles: Edale – Mam Tor – Lose Hill – Win Hill – Edale
From Mam Tor the view over the Hope Valley is normally spoiled by an ugly cement factory that provides employment to the town of Hope. In the snow it was invisible. On the ridge between here and Lose Hill we had a very long snowball fight and laughed endlessly. The weather closed in on Win Hill.
Nags Head – renowned ‘olde’ pub in Edale that marks the start of the Pennine Way long distance footpath.
Day 2: Circular walk 8 miles: Derwent Reservoir – Lost Lad – Back Tor – Derwent Edge - Reservoir.
From the dam a zig zag path leads steeply up hill onto the edge high above the reservoir, from where there are glorious views. At Lost Lad we made snow angels; on Derwent Edge the snow drifts were so deep we dug out a snow cave.
Dovestone Tor, Salt Cellar, White Tor and Wheel Stones are large grit stone rock formations on Derwent Edge.
Very nicely done Sally. A complete trip in just a few well chosen words. It was great to see your follow-up note, which put the whole thing in context for us. I would think it would be very interesting to ask your fellow walkers how much of the trip this evokes for them. If you have it right, and I suspect you have, it may well have a similar effect as photos from the trip.
ReplyDeleteGraham
Thanks Graham, I was trying to combine the last theme of 'sense of place' with the current theme of 'snow'. The walk took place about eight years ago but I revived strong imagery in my mind as I wrote this so hopefully you are right about photos. I was also hoping that by using a rhythmic beat in the poem, it would convey something of the rhythm of a long walk broken by stops (to play or enjoy the view). Not sure whether none hill-walkers would get that though. Sally
ReplyDeleteHi Sally, I think it's great that you ventured out of your comfort zone as that was my key aim when I set up the group. There's no better way to shake up your prose and develop as a writer. I love what you have done with this. It's very evocative in such a few short words. I think the lines that are the most successful are the ones that convey feeling rather than just straight nouns, so the 'laughing eyes', the 'hidden hope'. Also where there is a clear sense of rhythm: I love 'Morning, yawning, steaming tea'. Will look forward to discussing at the next sesh. BG
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with Beth. Whilst descriptions of the place are crucial, the passion and the description of the experience lies in the emotional response to it. By the way, my elder son has recently said he intends to go walking in the Peak District, so I emailed him your description, thinking it would help him to identify what best to do and where to go. D
ReplyDelete(it's great being able to type just 'D'! Do you know how unusual it is to find a group without someone else called David in it?]
Beth, David, thanks for your feedback. I was walking with four fourteen year olds. We were about as emotional as [Brrrrrrrrrr],[Wheeeeeeee!],[Yaaaay!],[Ooooo!] and [Hurrrrrah!]... oh and lots of laughing :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, I take your point x