................................................................................................
................................................................................................
DEVON AND OTHER SONGS FOR MUSIC
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
Devon poetry continues with the themes of love and of beauty of nature of his ancestral corner of England, of the prewar occupation of heart. Most do seem ready for music, too, with a rhythm of their own.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
CONTENTS
GAULZERY (GALSWORTHY) MOOR
LAND SONG OF THE WEST COUNTRY
VILLAGE SLEEP SONG
DEVON TO ME!
THE CLIFF CHURCH: (WEMBURY)
COUNTING THE STARS
THE MOOR GRAVE
THE COVE
MOUNTAIN LOVERS
HIGHLAND SPRING
THE DOWNS
ON A SOLDIER’S FUNERAL
OLD YEAR
WIND
STREET LAMPS
STRAW IN THE STREET
RHYME AFTER RAIN
LET
LOVE’S A FLOWER
ROSE AND YEW
MAGPIE
THE MOON AT DAWN
RHYME OF THE LAND AND SEA
PAST
THE GOLDEN GIPSY
MOUNTAIN AIR
TITTLE-TATTLE
THE FLOWER
VOICE IN THE NIGHT
AVOWAL
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
GAULZERY (GALSWORTHY) MOOR
Moor of his name -
"MOOR of my name, where the road leads high,
"Thro’ heather and bracken, gorse and grass,
"Up to the crown of the western sky,
"A questing traveller, slow, I pass.
"Silent and lonely the darkening moor,"
Loneliness is brought out, but beauty is what it's steepest in, yet!
"And I on the road alone — alone;
"And the south-west wind is beginning to croon,
"And a listening lonely pine-tree sways;
"And behind it is hanging a golden moon
"For a resting sign at the cornerways.
"A thousand years since the stranger came,
"And homed him here, and gave me name."
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
LAND SONG OF THE WEST COUNTRY
Very picturesque verses, with the land brought alive, and too the rhythm of traversing it.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
VILLAGE SLEEP SONG
This one is far more successful a lullaby than those one hears generally, except its music isn't clear; but that's the wonder too, it induces sleep as one read it!
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
DEVON TO ME!
Having read about his parents and his upper class bringing up in England, reading this poem isn't as misleading as it could have otherwise been - he's wring of the land and the people, in images he names his parents.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
THE CLIFF CHURCH: (WEMBURY)
"I stand fast —
"Let the waters cry!
"Here I last
"To Eternity!"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
COUNTING THE STARS
This one brings back vividly his The Apple Tree, and one understands he wrote it about himself.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
THE MOOR GRAVE
This one again is reminiscent of The Apple Tree, and far more so, being about the grave on the moor. Is the story his own?
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
THE COVE
Galsworthy brings alive the hidden cove of a lonely corner of England's coast with wind, rain, waves, and much more.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
MOUNTAIN LOVERS
Is this one really about Devon? It seems far more alpine!
"And now the clock is set at noon; "The butterflies are kittens black; "And cowbells tumble out a tune
"Which yellow bees do mumble back.
"We’ve climbed the snow into the sky;
"Below, streams run a tinkling race,
"And valleys glisten drowsily, For all the world lies on its face.
"The crystals bubble from the pine,
"And grasses teem with little legs —"
"Blueberries are ripe and warm,
"Sparkle-fairies swim to land;
"Hay is packing to the farm,
"Cows, for milkmaids begging, stand."
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
HIGHLAND SPRING
"And solemn gaze young maids, heart-free.
"The white clouds race, the sun rays flare
"And turn to gold the pallid mist;
"With greedy mouth the Spring has kissed
"The wind that links the sky with sea.
"The blue and lonely mountains stare,
"As if to draw the blue above."
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
THE DOWNS
"Fairy-spun of the thistle floss;
"And the beech-grove, and a wood-dove,
"And the trail where the shepherds pass;
"And the lark’s song, and the wind-song,
"And the scent of the parching grass!"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
ON A SOLDIER’S FUNERAL
"The wind shrills high;
"The darkened day is chasing grief
"With lash of blinding rain — and brief
"The footfalls die."
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
OLD YEAR
"The moonlight floods the grass,
"The music’s hushed, and all the festal din;
"The pale musicians pass,
"Each clasping close his green-cased violin.
"Old Year! — not breathing now,
"Along the polished floor you lie alone;
"I bend, and touch your brow —
"The dead year, that has slipped away and gone!
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 05, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
WIND
Evocative as ever, he describes the wind
"Sweet with scent of clover,
"Salt with breath of sea."
- after he's said
"WIND, wind — heather gipsy,
Whistling in my tree!
"All the heart of me is tipsy
"On the sound of thee!"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
STREET LAMPS
Who'd ever think of writing a word, much less a poem, about street lamps! And John Galsworthy goes to write a marvellous one -
"LAMPS, lamps! Lamps everywhere!
"You wistful, gay, and burning eyes,
"You stars low-driven from the skies
"Down on the rainy air.
"You merchant eyes, that never tire Of spying out our little ways,
"Of summing up our little days In ledgerings of fire — Inscrutable your nightly glance,
"Your lighting and your snuffing out,
"Your flicker through the windy rout,
"Guiding this mazy dance.
"O watchful, troubled gaze of gold,
"Protecting us upon our beats —
"You piteous glamour of the streets,
"Youthless — and never old!"
- it keeps a reader marvelling!
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
STRAW IN THE STREET
Again, who'd ever imagine the title for a topic of a poem! And yet, as one reads through
"Straw in the street!
"To wintry sleeping
"Turns all our summer laughter.
"The brooms are sweeping...
There’s naught for me hereafter!"
it brings not only comprehension, but much more, the whole scene alive, summer turned to winter, - and comprehension of all that the verses imply.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
RHYME AFTER RAIN
Beautiful verses, painting the lovely and live portrait of a countryside after rain in April, and singing of spring and life,
"STARRY-EYED is April morn,
"Rainbells glitter on the thorn,
"Birds are tuning down the lane
Patter song of fallen rain."
and transients of it all.
"Gather the sob, gather the song!
"Neither will last, neither will last!
"All is yours, but not for long —
"Life travels fast!"
So beautiful -
"Rainbow’s dipping out to sea,
"Lambs are whispering devilry,
"Leaves are sweet as e’er you’ve seen,
"Sun is golden, grass is green.
"Meadow’s pied with flowers wet,
"Thrushes sing: “Forget, forget!”
"Gather the grey, gather the gleam!
"Neither will last, neither will last!
"Certainty—’tis but a dream!
"Life travels fast!"
one is tempted to quote all of it!
"Winds are merry, sky is blue.
"Spring has laughter, Spring has tears,
"Life has courage, life has fears.
"Gather the tears, gather the mirth!
"Neither will last, neither will last!
"Old Year’s death is Young Year’s birth —
"Life travels fast!"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
LET
The title, Let, reminds one of the authors last book, To Let, in the famous trilogy, The Forsyte Saga, and the verses confirm it -
"MY Love lived there! And now
"’Tis but a shell of brick,"
But Irene did leave her home, Robin Hill, thus; not so, John Galsworthy, that is known of - Ada lived with him through his life, and lived after him! So was there someone else, before her?
He continues
"From windows gaily wide,
"Where once the curtained dark
"My heaven used to hide,"
and the impression strengthens that perhaps The Apple Tree, and the Moor Grave, was all real, in his life, even if not exactly as he wrote it.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
LOVE’S A FLOWER
From the beginning
"LOVE’S a flower, ’tis born and broken,
"Plucked apace, and hugged apart;
"Evening comes, it clings — poor token —
"Dead and dry, on lover’s heart."
to the end
"Love’s a shimmery morning bubble
"Puffed all gay from pipe of noon;
"Spun aloft on breath of trouble —
"Bursts in air — is gone — too soon!"
again one is left with the impression that there was another love in his life.
Unless this - these - were written during the transient phase before Ada be with him.
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
ROSE AND YEW
Beautiful verses, beautiful imagery -
"LOVE flew by! Young wedding day,
"Peeping through her veil of dew,
"Saw him, and her heart went fey —
"His wings no shadows threw."
and very intriguing.
"Love flew by! Young day was gone,
"Owls were hooting — Whoo-to-whoo!
"Happy wedded lay alone,
"Who’d vowed that love was true."
Was this about the first wedding of Ada?
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
MAGPIE
Galsworthy continues with the theme of loss of love,
"Loved to-day — is lost to-morrow!"
asking
"Magpie! flying, flying —
"What have you brought to me?"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
THE MOON AT DAWN
How, why, does a poet look at the beautiful, golden, full moon setting at dawn, and think of a woman cheating, stealing out after a night while her lover sleeps?
What's wrong with John Galsworthy, from time to time?
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
RHYME OF THE LAND AND SEA
Mysterious, the whole, as much as the bit
"But her smile — like the wine-red, shadowy sea,"
about "wine-red, shadowy sea,"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
PAST
This one seems about coming to a certain age -
"The stars have twinkled, and died out —
"Fair candles blown!
"The hot desires burn low, and gone
"To ash the fire that flamed anon.
"The stars have twinkled, and died out!"
and while it's beautiful, it is only sad in a familiar sense.
"The leaves are dropping from my tree!
"Dead leaves and flown,
"The vine-leaf ghosts are round my brow,
"For ever frosts and winter now.
"The leaves are dropping from my tree!"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
THE GOLDEN GIPSY
(FROM ‘THE LITTLE DREAM’)
"THE windy hours through darkness fly —
"Canst hear them, little heart?
"New loves are born, and old loves die,
"And kissing lips must part!"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
MOUNTAIN AIR
"TELL me of Progress if you will,
"But give me sunshine on a hill —
"The grey rocks spiring to the blue,
"The scent of larches, pinks, and dew,
"And summer sighing to the trees,
"And snowy breath on every breeze.
"Take towns and all that you’ll find there,
"And leave me sun and mountain air!"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
TITTLE-TATTLE
John Galsworthy is probably addressing those corresponding to the Forsyte clan that was his, as Forsyte clan was that of Jolyon old and young.
"TITTLE-TATTLE! Scandal and japes,
"Gibe, and gossip, and folly’s rattle!
"Ringed to fashion, caught like apes
"In your cage of tittle-tattle!
"Mean your skies, And mean the ways you tread;
"The meanness of your eyes Is never fully fed.
"You that have birth In gold and grovellings!"
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
THE FLOWER
Amazing!
"THERE’S a flower with a cup- A cup of dew;
"Golden god plucked it up
"And gave it you.
"If you shake — let it spill —
"Its pretty rain,
"All the world will not fill It up again.
"Careless death it must die,
"And, like a weed,
"In the sun ever lie Disherited."
He probably meant that about love, but it's so true about so much more!
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
VOICE IN THE NIGHT
(FROM ‘TO LET’)
From "To Let", it can only be about the younger generation.
"VOICE in the night — crying —
"Down in the old sleeping Spanish city,
"Darkened under her white stars;
"What says the voice — its clear lingering anguish?
"Just the watchman telling his dateless tale of safety?
"Just a roadman flinging to the moon his song?
"No. ’Tis one deprived — a lover’s prayer for pity,
"Just his cry: “How long?”"
Holly was married to Val Dartie whom she loved, and June had lost her love a while ago; is this the anguish of Fleur?
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
AVOWAL
(FROM ‘THE ROOF’)
Most beautifully worded appeal that a lover true could make, especially the final words!
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 06, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................
................................................
August 05, 2021 - August 06, 2021.
................................................
................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................
