Tag: poetry

It is Quiet in the Wood

The photograph was taken in Morchard Wood in the autumn, 2025. Morchard Bishop is a village in Mid Devon.

~

It is quiet in the wood
So quiet that it’s understood
You must walk silently.

Then you hear the birdsong
And you realise nothing’s wrong
With silence:

Let the sounds of nature speak
To all who would now listen –

Only in quietness seek.

~

‘It’s quiet in the wood’ comes from the new collection of poems being prepared. Devon a Light is available for purchase as a book via my poetry store here and to read or purchase as an ebook on Amazon here.

~

Morchard

The photograph is of Morchard wood, taken in Autumn 2025. Morchard Bishop is a village in Mid Devon.

~

It is the Great Wood:

“Morchet”, “Mor Coed”

Becoming “Morchard Bishop”

Or to locals just “Morchard”

~

In winter impassable

Due to the mud

In summer a wonder

To Devon blood

~

The trees’ breathing

Ensures we survive

Each moment’s photosynthesis

Each moment we are alive.

~

‘Morchard’ comes from the new collection of poems being prepared. Devon a Light is available for purchase as a book via my poetry store here and to read or purchase as an ebook on Amazon here.

~

Devon A Light

The photograph is of an autumn sunrise, taken from Morchard Bishop.

~

The sky pinks and oranges

With red

Celebrations

After a stormy night

~

And in imagination I’m led

By nature and a million words

Which in the silence I have heard

~

That might

Set Devon all alight.

~

‘Devon A Light’ comes from the collection of poems Devon a Light which is available for purchase as a book via my poetry store here and to read or purchase as an ebook on Amazon here.

~

Arch of Glory – November 2025

The photograph was taken from Morchard Bishop in the autumn.

~

We saw

the arch of glory

.

Which framed

our story

.

Of birth

Childhood and growth

.

What would be next

We wondered

.

Gazing

At the richest colours

.

In fascination

Both.

~

‘Arch of Glory’ comes from the collection of poems Devon a Light which is available for purchase as a book via my poetry store here and to read or purchase as an ebook on Amazon here.

~

I’ll Tell You How The Sun Rose

I’ll tell you how the Sun rose – 
A Ribbon at a time – 
The Steeples swam in Amethyst – 
The news, like Squirrels, ran – 


The Hills untied their Bonnets – 
The Bobolinks – begun –
Then I said softly to myself –
“That must have been the Sun”!

But how he set – I know not –
There seemed a purple stile
That little Yellow boys and girls
Were climbing all the while – 

Till when they reached the other side – 
A Dominie in Gray – 
Put gently up the evening Bars – 
And led the flock away –

This wonderful poem by Emily Dickinson inspired me when I first read it in my late teens, and it still inspires me today.

The photograph was taken from my village, Morchard Bishop in Devon, looking at Dartmoor in the distance.