Garden Blogger's Muse Day - June 2009

Adlestrop

'Yes. I remember Adlestrop—
The name, because one afternoon
Of heat the express-train drew up there
Unwontedly. It was late June.

The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.
No one left and no one came
On the bare platform. What I saw
Was Adlestrop—only the name

And willows, willow-herb, and grass,
And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,
No whit less still and lonely fair
Than the high cloudlets in the sky.

And for that minute a blackbird sang
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the birds
Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.'


~ Edward Thomas 1878 -1917

This poem brings back fond memories of childhood summer day trips by steam train. Days when it was still possible to open a train window and just listen to the outer world. My high cloudlets were photographed late yesterday afternoon - the moon is afloat amidst them.

More June musings can be enjoyed at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago hosted by Carolyn Gail.