Tuesday 10 March 2020

The Passage of Time.

It is three years this  month since my dear farmer died - the time has gone so quickly and yet in another sense he seems to have been gone for so long.

In the days (1993) when I was a widow living in a nearby village and he was a bachelor farming just a footpath away, I used to walk with Algy, my black pug, over the footpath each day.   If we met in his fields we would stand and chat for a while and it he happened to be getting his cows in to milk in the summer I would help him move the electric fence and walk down to the farm with him behind his herd.   They were happy days after the sadness of losing my first husband.   If I didn't see the farmer I would pick a few wild flowers, tie them together with a  blade of grass and hang them on the electric fence so that he knew I had been past.   This afternoon, tidying a bookshelf, I came across this poem I had written at the time.  I  thought I would post it for you to read in memory of him.

Message on a wire.

There is a stillness in your field.
Not a silence,
(for the mistle thrush sings
on the topmost bough of the hawthorne).
(And the beck finds its voice 
as it slips over the stones
in the South meadow).
But a stillness
from long ago,
when the grass was sown 
and peppered with wild flowers
in their season.

One day in July
the stillness would be broken.
The grass would be mown,
tossed, dried in the sun, smelt,
and carted away to the stack.
Then the stillness would return.

Men who care for fields
feel that stillness,
soak it into their bones,
become that stillness,
protected, cocooned
within the confines
of their walls.

 
I walked across your field today.
I could leave you a message on your phone.
Or I could leave
two buttercups, a herb robert,
and a cuckoo flower, tied
with a strand of grass and
hanging on the fence.
Either way you will know. 

Rest in peace my dear farmer.
 
 
feel that stillness,

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a lovely story of getting to know your farmer....and the poem brought tears to my eyes. Thank you So very much for sharing this with all of us!

Barbara said...

Your right the passing of time is a strange thing when you have lost someone close, Thank you for sharing your poem such lovely words, I feel as though I've walk your path and seen the calm view, X

Librarian said...

Leaving meadow flowers on the fence for a man - how romantic is that!
And like the person who has commented above, your poem brought tears to my eyes.

I know what you mean about the passage of time. My husband died more than 10 years ago, which is a long time, and in many aspects, my life was different back then. But sometimes it seems like only very recently that I found myself a widow all of a sudden.

Gwil W said...

A lovely melodic poem with the feeling of spring and rebirth in it.

Oklahoma Girl said...

What a beautiful story and poem. The visual of you leaving flowers on the fence brought a smile. How very romantic and precious.

It hurts to lose those we love but the memories and their spirit are always close.

Thank you for sharing.

JayCee said...

That sent a little shiver down my spine, but in a good way. So much love in those few lines x

Rosie said...

What a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing it with us. I hope the memories of your romantic courtship and happy marriage give you comfort. I am sure your dear farmer is resting in peace in the place he loved.

Rambler said...

Such a romantic gesture to leave wildflowers on the fence for him - and your beautiful poem made me cry because of its poignancy. Sending you gentle (((((((hugs))))))) as you remember and think of your beloved farmer. xxx

Jules said...

That's a beautiful poem, Pat. I love how you used to leave flowers to let your farmer know you had passed by. X

Sue in Suffolk said...

So beautiful, thank you for sharing.

gmv said...

I have read many beautiful things in my lifetime but your poem and story about your farmer touched my heart most deeply.

What a wonderful love the two of you must have shared.

Tom Stephenson said...

That brought tears to my eyes Weave. Is it really three years?

Rachel Phillips said...

Very romantic Weave.

Ellen D. said...

That is just lovely - your story and your poem. I can feel how much you care for him. Thanks for sharing!

the veg artist said...

Such a beautiful poem and story.

RITA LOEHR said...

Lovely, just simply lovely.❤️

Mary said...

I'm sorry he went too soon but I'm sure he looks down on you and his fields. You write so beautifully, the poem is sad but so full of life just as 'your farmer' was for all the years you shared in the countryside. Sharing this with us is special and poignant - thank you Pat X

Bobbie said...

Beautiful :)

Barbara Anne said...

How heartwarming and a perfect remembrance of your beloved farmer. I believe that love lasts forever.

Hugs!

Heather said...

What a beautiful poem and a very fitting memorial for your dear farmer. Poignant memories.

Bonnie said...

Heartwarming. Love to you.
Bonnie in Minneapolis

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I can't believe it has already been three years now. It must be incomprehensible for you. Your story is heartwarming. -Jenn

Bonnie said...

Oh Pat, this is such a romantic and beautiful story and poem! Thank you for sharing it with us. You have a beautiful heart!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks to you all. I am so pleased I shared it with you.

Joanne Noragon said...

Thank you for the lovely verses and their sentiment.

Sue said...

I don't often read poetry, but I would read yours again and again. It is just beautiful as was your story. xx Sue

Jill said...

You were able to really show us your feelings with your memory and poem. Beautiful. This was very touching for me.

Marcia LaRue said...

I am new to your blog and I love your poem to your Farmer! Beautifully written, the sentiment so very touching! Thank you!

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

So heartfelt and well expressed...I began reading your blog when the farmer was still alive. You have had a very good life and still are and I think much of the credit for that goes to your positive attitude and cultivation of many friends.

Cro Magnon said...

That's beautiful. Did he see it? Or did you keep it to yourself?

thelma said...

A beautiful love story.

Catherine said...

Thank you for posting your most beautiful and personal poem.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Cro - yes he did see it - I wrote it before we married and he used to read my poetry.

Thanks to you all and welcome to Marcia.

Jean Winnipeg said...

How truly lovely to hear how you met and to read the poem.

Maudie said...

Quite a beautiful poem.

Marcia LaRue said...

I discovered you on John's Going Gently blog! Thank you for the welcome to your world ... I am in S.CO. šŸ˜Š

Ruth said...

That's truly beautiful, and so moving. You'll meet again some day.

Brenda in Indiana said...

Your poem is lovely. That was a wonderful story of your meeting the farmer.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you all.

wherethejourneytakesme said...

Just trying to catch up so am late seeing this - that is a beautiful moving poem Pat - I feel sad for you but hoping you have many happy memories to see you through this month.xx

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