a poem on thursday : anyone lived in a pretty how town

Anyone Lived in a Pretty How Town 

ee cummings

anyone lived in a pretty how town

(with up so floating many bells down)

spring summer autumn winter

he sang his didn't he danced his did.

Women and men (both little and small)

cared for anyone not at all

they sowed their sin't they reaped their same

sun moon stars rain

children guessed (but only a few

and down they forgot as up they grew

autumn winter spring summer)

that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf

she laughed his joy she cried his grief

bird by snow and stir by still

anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones

laughed their cryings and did their dance

(sleep wake hope and then) 

they said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon

(and only the snow can begin to explain

how children are apt to forget to remember

with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died I guess

(and noone stopped to kiss his face)

busy folk buried them side by side

little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep

and more by more they dream their sleep

noone and anyone earth by april

with by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men (both doing and ding)

sumer autumn winter spring

reaped their sowing and went their came

sun moon stars rain

the grand old duke of york

Last post from the weekend - promise.  We went to York on Sunday before returning back to London for what was to be a horror 5 1/2 hour flight from London to Berlin. Yep, 5 1/2 hours - 30 minutes on the tarmac at Heathrow, 45 minutes in the plane towards Berlin, 30 minutes in the plane back to London, 1 1/2 hours changing planes at Heathrow, 1 hour and 20 minute successful flight to Berlin.  This 'lovely' flight route also included a fairly fast-paced descent into Tegal airport as the pilot attempted to land before midnight and escape the 'late-arrival' fine, or worse re-routing to Schonefeld.  Safe to say we were glad to be home.  But enough of my whinging.  Below, images of wintery York.  And remember to hum the song as you go along - we did!

The Grand old Duke of York, 

He had 10,000 men, 

He marched them up to the top of the hill, 

And he marched them down again.

And when they were up, they were up, 

And when they were down, they were down, 

And when they were only half way up, 

They were neither up nor down!

etsy love : alphabet soup

As I mentioned earlier Kylie, one of my lovely friends is having a baby in two months and while we were staying with her over Easter she mentioned that she wanted a nice alphabet mural for her nursery.  Well, I couldn't resist trying to recruit another person to Etsy and with a few hours spare this afternoon I found her some of my favourites - all shipping to UK.

Art and Philanthropy 

Georgie Pie

Little Lottie Ladies' 

Janey Macpress

Lindsay Art

English Muffin

the girls and the boys

 

I'm not usually one for strict gender division, but on Saturday 'the boys' were keen for a walk despite the rain and with a 32-week pregnant belly it was clear that at least one of 'the girls' would not be doing a four-hour trek in the Yorkshire Dales.  And so we had a very gendered Saturday where the boys went walking in the hail and snow and reported back that it was "great", and we went shopping for 'labour ward PJs', talked, giggled and when the rain came had a delicious lunch at the Corn Exchange in central Leeds.

 

But despite being very glad that I was warm and dry inside (eating yet more chocolate), I was also glad that 'the boys' took photos.  I think the Dales look really eerie and mysterious and the reds and greens of the grasses are beautifully muted and would make a fantastic colour palate for "something".  This last picture reminds me a bit of 'the Famous Five' books by Enid Blyton, don't you think?

easter weekend

Time seemed to have got away from me this weekend.  The trip to Leeds went too quickly and then today flew by and before I realised I was snuggled up watching a movie thinking that really I should be thinking about bed.  But such a great weekend.  Details to come tomorrow.

C&C Assignment II : Cheeky Monkey

This week's assignment was 'composition and perspective' using a still life.  The task was to take 5 or 6 photos from different angles, perspectives and focus points using the same initial still life composition.


My still life took on a life of it's own (excuse the pun) as I looked around our apartment for interesting shapes and textures to use.  I initially thought about an easter theme, but the Monkey had other ideas!  Before I knew it he had set himself up a lovely little game with the Backgammon board, a pack of cards and won himself a whole lot of money.  Naughty monkey!  I had fun, hope you enjoy the pictures too.

I'm away this weekend on a computer-free holiday - bliss!  I'll be checking back in on Sunday or Monday to see what everyone else from the C&C Photography workshop has done with their assignments.  If you're interested in seeing what everyone else involved in the workshop is up to you'll find the links to everyone's blogs at C&C Photography.

A Poem on Thursday

Coom, don on thy Bonnet an' Shawl 

by Thomas Blackah (1867)

Coom, don on thy bonnet an' shawl,
An' straighten thy cap an' thy hair;
I's really beginnin' to stall
To see thee sit dazzin' i' t' chair.

Sea coom, let us tak a walk oot,
For t' air is as warm as a bee;
I hennot a morsel o' doot

It'll help beath lile Willy an' thee.

 We'll gan reet throo t' Middle Toon,

As far as to Reavensgill Heead;
When thar, we can sit wersens doon
On t' crags close at side o' t' becksteead.

An' then, oh! hoo grand it'll be
To pass a few minutes away,
An' listen t' birds sing on each tree
Their carols for closin' the day.

An' all aboot t' green nobby hills,
T' lile daisies their beauties will show;
An' t' perfume at Flora distils
Like breath o' the mornin' will blow.

Then don on thy bonnet an' shawl,
An' coom let's be walkin' away;
I's fairly beginnin' to stall
To see thee sit dazzin' all t' day.

I'm off to Yorkshire for the Easter break so I thought it would  be appropriate to choose a Yorkshire poet for today.  I'm visiting some old uni friends of mine who are now living in Leeds and London.  So, so excited!!  I'm leaving my computer behind, but will still be posting on Saturday for the next C&C photography assignment.