nevillecowan

I have written this poem in a Book I am busy with entitled Changing Moods of Blenheim Palace. Alongside each verse is a picture associated with the words written, sadly I cant add the pictures here but some of the pics have already been posted in my Bubble.

There is no better way to settle the mind
And rest the heart, than to get up early for
For a walk in the park,

Its in the early morning mist I look
I hope I can put this view in a book
I stand and gaze at this changing scene
and the trees and lake reveal a dream
before me the sky breaks clear of the misty gloom
and the trees and lake begin to fill my view

With winter light and barren trees
I find a spot to rest my knees
I sit and watch as the fisherman tries
I know he’s there for the warming skies
as the sun shines down to warm his spot
and in his box he has his tot.

The winter sun shines down to warm
even the grassy banks glow like the dawn
Its as if this Swan is swimming in gold
no wonder she thrusts her feathers out bold
I sit and watch in the warming light
even in the winter this scene is bright
I hold my camera to my side
and soak up the view with growing pride
Would this day better anywhere else?

As winter turns to spring
and the spring kisses the summer
nature’s baby chicks
are with a doting mother.

Walkers pass them by
as creatures great and small
wander through the undergrowth
searching grubs and all.

Even on a misty day
the lake and scene will find a way
To make you look and make you say
I’m so glad I came today.

As the mist begins to clear
a distant visitor has landed here
is it grass or is it the gloom
that’s brought this bird to make us swoon
whatever it is I’m glad I have got
the fantastic chance to get this shot

Under these old Cedar trees
they stand out tall for all to see
some have come to sit in the shade
others have come to discuss their trade
perhaps with love a couple have met
and exchanged their rings for want to be wed
or just for a rest after a long hard walk
then spent the time to stop and talk

When the season starts to change you’ll see
and under coppery trees you’ll be
Mushrooms will break from their summer cover
and with a basket we’ll search for another.

I often come to this quiet spot
out of the wind and nice and hot
At times a swan will come on by
and even a kingfisher we’ll see her fly

If these places could replay life
from times gone by with trouble and strife
I’m sure this would be a scene of peace
hopes and thoughts that wars would cease
some would wander to and fro
without a trace of stress to show

Its something you never tire to see,
that’s the ever changing colour of a tree,
in winter never a leaf to be
then spring and summer
a sudden show of green to see,
then on comes the change of autumn
then a leaf will change from green, red
Yellow and auburn

My favourite time of year is the Autumn,
never a chance for any boredom
but with my trusty camera I look for them
As a little wagtail hops about
and a crested Grebe is watching out
and squirrels busy preparing in the autumn
Yes there is no time for boredom

I see colours of gold, shades of green
always in time to change the scene
from summer to winter, has autumn been?
What do you see? What do you glean?

Sometimes an early frost
sometimes a lot of rain
sometimes a bit of snow
but when its sun we’re out again
to walk the park or to run and train.
I sometimes look at people’s faces
as they stand and gaze at various places.
It’s a mesmerising duty
to bow their heads at this grandiose beauty.
I must admit that it’s a pleasure
to have a park that is a treasure
to go out and walk and go out and see
maybe that’s just me.

Once upon a time this tree was small
hoping to show some shade for all
and as the years went passing by
with all the seasons and trying times
rain and sun, autumn and winter
certainly this tree was never bitter
it stood its time and stood up tall
in days of prime and views of all
even though you have died but not gone
I stand before you and form a bond
A reflection shows you in this water
you are for me forever immortal

At the end of the day the sun will set
with pink in the sky and a passing jet
What better way to end the day
than with a glass of wine
and something to dine
while sitting on the grass
to pass the time.

Its days like this you give a sigh
when glass like water reflects the sky
As good old Brits while passing by
you’ll want to say isn’t it a lovely day?
But if it should be pouring down
a face is glum with a sad old frown.

Amongst the trees a filtering sun
a pheasant will pass while on the run
a squirrel will climb, a bird has fun
while teasing you as you look up in the sun.

We often forget who lives out there
as we walk on by with our minds in the air
with little eyes they watch us go
then scurry off without a show.
I have seen rabbits I’ve seen deer
I’ve seen squirrels living here,
I’ve seen ducks I’ve seen swans
I’ve seen grebe all swimming here
Even snakes will slither past
if you spend some time on the path,
I’ve walked the forest here
and heard the owl calling clear
Little birds will sing their song be it short or be it long
what they are saying is we’re living here.

As the sun sets upon the Park
so the swans and ducks will swim in the dark.
People will go to the warmth of there homes
and the animals of Blenheim will wonder alone.
A fox will bark up on the hill
And the blackened water is strangely still
Geese will graze around the edge
but song birds will keep their pledge
Never to sing after dark
as it will spoil the mood of the park

What is it that makes us look?
Is it a fluffy sky or a babbling brook?
Perhaps the moving shadows under a tree
or is it the creatures we want to see?
But whatever it is that makes you look
I hope it’s in the pages of this book

Across the Island I stand and look
A man with vision is what it took
To create a scene to please the eye
Before my view the birds will fly
Gulls will dip and swallows will swoop
Swans and geese join and hoot
What a sight as they fly on by
over my head as they reach for the sky
Swans with grace and geese with pace
I lift the camera but its just too late
I smile and say we’ll try again.
When that will happen I don’t know when
Others were here and I want to know
How did they look many years ago.
As people like us looked at this view,
I guess they were smiling just as we do.
With top hat and tails and flowing dress
they wondered across while trying to impress
Yes nothing has changed in peoples games
Just like this view even when it rains.

Winter’s coming I hear people say
Autumn trees are giving a display
although the air is crisp and cold
it won’t be long is what I’m told
As all the leaves will drop their show
and people from far will have to go
back to lands with another kind of beauty
and a life that demands they give their duty

One night as we rest ours heads,
the world will change around our beds,
we’ll wake up in the morning light
only to find it strangely bright
but when we look for want to know
why the ground is covered in snow
A now transformed virgin ground
will muffle even the slightest sound
we’ll quickly get ourselves dressed
to wonder out and look around.

It’s as if you’ve never been
around this place so white and clean
You look at places with new eyes
and wonder why it’s such a surprise
Everywhere you begin to see
there’s people smiling at you and me
Some have stopped at the coffee shop
Some are sliding from the hilltop
From old to young they are having fun
even if there is no sun.

Some will say it’s like a dream
But it used to be a common scene
I remember back in sixty-four
or was it back in fifty-four
well I know for definite, sure
the snow was a lot lot more.

I gaze out across the field
to a sight so white and heeled
All the year of dust and dirt
is hidden beneath this cleaned up shirt

As the sun goes down upon the park
So the clouds are looming ominous and dark
A storm is brewing up in the sky
with awe and splendor I look up high
So small I stand here below
surrounded by this beauty of a show
Not a sound is uttered from a tree
all the birds are quiet just like me

Icy crystals cling to a tree,
making shapes for the eye to see
upon the ground a pattern shows
I wonder who’s footprint no one knows
One thing good about this day
the gloomy sky and leafless trees
have made us feel in a better way
just by adding snow to the day
So we look to the end of winter
where we notice the slightest change for a sign of spring
and as the freezing sun shines upon our heads
we rush out to our potting sheds
a bit too soon we start to mutter
and close our coats with a sudden shudder
Oh well I guess its time to take the dog for a walk
I bet I’ll meet Mister Duffy and stop and talk
about the good old days of Blenheim ways
not too many people he will have to say
he will tell me what to see and who came to play
in the Palace courtyard back in his day
So I hope you have enjoyed this book
to help you to think and help you look
Next time you wonder through the park just remember the start of this book …..
There’s no better way to settle the mind and rest the heart, than to get up early for a walk in the park.