Friday, August 28, 2015

Moonlight over Versailles


Moonlight over Versailles

The moon, the light, the beauty.

Imagine a beautiful moon over Versailles: the light glinting off the spray of the fountains,

the magical moonbeams playing over the gardens, the flowers and tree-lined avenues.

I have not attended any of the night shows at the Chateau of Versailles but I can imagine

how wonderful they must be.

 

I have attended an afternoon baroque music show where all of the fountains were playing

and it was beautiful. 

Even at closing time on an overcast day the flower gardens are enhanced and look beautiful.

 

 

The Light

This is a poem which I wrote in 2004. 


The Light


The beautiful still moonlight shines brightly over the landscape
No shadows veil this serene beauty
Why cannot I be so still and silent, like this beautiful moonlit night?
Hush, whisper the sounds of the night
Lest this wish be granted
Wait, I say how do I ease my pain
And find my gain
Is it only to be found in truth and light?
Wait until the morning, I hear
See the light glinting on the leaves of the trees
Know the sun will shine brightly
And enhance the beauty which nature decrees
Day and Night
Night and Day
Chasing each other away
Time never stood still
Now there is another will
We sang and we died
The never ending pattern of life-
The Light of Day and Night
So fleeting,
The sunny days of youth passed us by
How deep the yearning cry
Of Childhood Dreams
And of lives unredeemed
Reflecting on lives well spent
And better times which went
Of Long Forgotten yesterdays
Hush whispers the mother to its young
Stay calm until the morning comes
Watch the bird swoop in the morning sky
In the clear blue light of another day
So graceful in its flight
In the early morning light
See how the sun sparkles on the crest of a sea-wave
Filtering its way
Through clouds
And forming a stream of light
So bright -
For now
From the time
When we are born
There is a New Light on the morn
The glorious light of a New Easter Dawn
And in the pale moonlight
I looked out upon this Land
Which cast in this ethereal glow
Seemed etched as though by an Angel’s Hand
Listened to the sea-waves lapping upon the sand
It all became so clear
A beautiful landscape within my sight
I knew such beauty bestowed upon us
Came from the Grace of light



Sunday, August 23, 2015

Against the Wind "Six Ribbons"

Against the Wind is a made for television series of 13 parts which I have recently viewed on you tube.
This series is well recommended and describes the difficulties encountered by the early immigrants and
convicts in New South Wales, Australia.  It is quite compelling viewing and I enjoyed watching this series.
The first episodes are set it in Ireland and thereafter in the new colony of New South Wales.
 The characters needed to be quite strong to survive the rigours of their ordeals at sea, as convicts in the new land and also as new colonists at the time.
A theme song of the series is "Six Ribbons" which is quite beautiful by Jon English.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9W5lQNFb-M

Monday, August 10, 2015

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George


The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

This wonderful story appealed for its beautiful story line and also for

the magnificent descriptive quality of the prose.  A Paris book-seller

had been in love with a woman and the story details

his love and loss and how he eventually comes to terms with his grief

for the loss of his love which endures for many years.

 

Jean Perdu ( John Lost) travels through France on a boat on the Seine River

traversing different regions and counties, rivers and canals and eventually

arrives in beautiful Provence.  There is a map of his travels by water and by road listed at the beginning of the book.

 

This is indeed a fascinating story of love and loss and also a story of great beauty,

the meaning of love and loss.  I enjoyed reading this story though I was surprised

at times to read the travel diaries of Manon, (Jean Perdu’s lost love) also included in the story.  This book

has been translated into English and was originally published in Germany.

 

There are interesting and fascinating characters in the story whom Jean

Perdu relates to well after living a life of seeming isolation for many years.

The characters also add colour and joie de vivre to the novel with their

myriad emotions, reflections on life, eccentricities and their joy of living.

 

To me the most beautiful aspects of the book are the wonderful descriptions

of river life while travelling on the barge, the little towns and villages and also

the beauty of the landscape under the skies of Provence.  The mountains,

the little villages and the greenery of trees and pasture and the beautiful lavender fields described almost as a chequered quilt, so beautiful!

 

This book also gives a great understanding of life and the turmoil some

people may encounter.  I enjoyed reading this book and it is well recommended.