Friday, June 12, 2009


Rydal Mount

Come with me.....

It is an enthusiastic Virginia Creeper that encircles the house like a necklace of fire, its royal gemstones of flaming leaves set aglow by the crystal clear September sun. Though inside all is still, and hushed, one can yet sense the vivacity of ideas that once played through these rooms. Was it not just yesterday? It seems as though the great poet himself has only just retreated to the garden, jealous of his privacy.

Shadows waltz at the peak of the house, where his study shimmers in the gold of the afternoon. A gathering of bluebottles convenes on the wide windowsill, arranging and rearranging themselves like floating calligraphy; mere ghosts of the letters he once captured to paint his exalted stanzas of light. They beat against the glass in their desire to be released - to fly past the garden, over the lake and out into the world once more.

Peace floats on the very breeze that wends its way through his garden - one follows it down shaded pathways, past romantic vistas of green and blue, to the tiny stone Summer House where an ever open window frames an unequaled view of Eden. One can only imagine the courage it took to create verses of beauty in the presence of such abounding competition from Nature herself. Artists both, perhaps they chose to work in tandem, Nature’s splendour inspiring the words that served to describe Nature’s splendour, each one magnifying the magnificence of the other, each one enriching the bounty of the known world.

“Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings:
it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility”

William Wordsworth


My late afternoon view from the Summer House window
at Rydal Mount, Cumbria

Home of poet William Wordsworth

Painting above: View From Rydal Park, by Francis Towne

32 comments:

  1. What a Great shot !! The mountains and the forest are really looking amazing..Thanks for sharing..Also I Have Started My Own Website And Would Like You To Have A Look At It.I Would Love To Have Your Comments On That Also.Unseen Rajasthan

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  2. LOVE that painting, the shot of the mountains - and yes, the quote. GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS! Pet Mr. Edward for me! :)

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  3. Beautiful shot - what a heavenly place!!! Hope things have been well with you!!
    Lucy Lu said hi to Edward..
    BLessings, Sarah

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  4. Such a beautiful view and I love the quote..."Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings..."

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  5. Oh Wow! Wow! What a view!
    A big hug to Edward & Apple!
    xoxo

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  6. A gorgeous part of the world, which I'm glad to say I know very well. Thanks for the pictures.

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  7. My hubby loves William Wordsworth. I told him to look at your post today! Lovely!

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  8. A particularly eloquent piece of writing worthy of the great man himself. Did you go to Dove cottage I wonder?

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  9. beautiful post! your writing always captivates and inspires!

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  10. And what a view it is!! Oh to wake up and see that view every morning.
    Thank you!
    Leslie

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  11. Beautiful!
    I recently read the following, which is probably known to everyone but me..but just in case, here it is:
    Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance. Carl Sandberg

    I loved your post about the rain. We get a lot of it up here for three seasons and I truly believe that there is a sort of rain in which one doesn't get wet - for all others, I always carry a brolly.

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  12. Ah, that Virginia Creeper. I know it well.

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  13. What a view...like mounds of emerald velvet!
    Catherine

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  14. I'm not the romantic type, but I must say, this is so very romantic to me :)

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  15. What a beautiful photograph - the view! You just can't imagine living with no views - flat land - to see something like this!!! just amazing!

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  16. Awesome photo of the mountains and trees. The narrative brought me bliss.

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  17. Your post today was beautiful....The Lakes, the mountains, tea and cakes in a cumbrian tea-shoppe!... england in summer..bliss....

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  18. Lovely photo of Grasmere. I'm taking a few girls up to the lakes camping next month. Should be fun.

    Thanks for popping in and visiting me, I'm only just catching up with Blogland now.

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  19. Beautiful photograph, inspiring scenery.

    I visited Wordsworth's home, Dove Cottage, in Grasmere. The views there were lovely as well...green rolling hills, round white sheep, beautiful lake...he wrote "all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils" there.

    Like you I hold beautiful memories in my mind's eye like jewels to be taken out and admired again and again. Your memory gave me a mini mind vacation. Thank you.

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  20. Hello P&E,

    Although we have friends in Windermere and have been past both Wordsworth residences, we haven't been in! The views are wonderful wherever one looks.

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  21. Oh my, what a view. You are in an enchanting place. William Wordsworth is one of my favorite poets. the painting at top reminds me of our drive to our favorite seaside destination here on the westcoast...winding through the eucalyptus trees, the waves just beyond the dunes. Ahww, I want to go...

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  22. Pamela, thank you so much for sharing the wonder of your thoughts with us. Your prose, as I have often said, is a delight to read and ponder, as are the exquisite pictures you find to illustrate.
    Another most sensitive and wonderful post.

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  23. I found your blog though a comment you left at Life at Willow Manor - such beautiful words and images. I do wish though that you would let us know the titles and names of the artists for the images. I'll be back!

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  24. We live within an hours drive of the Lake District Pamela - you have only to go anywhere there on a lovely day and you can imagine how much Wordsworth was inspired.

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  25. I have been to Rydal Mount. In fact, it is what inspired my husband and I to our love of wisteria! I remember so clearly how my breath was taken away standing in William's sister Dorothy's room at the house. I could picture her sitting looking through the wisteria framed window to the outdoors. I just knew at that moment that we had to have wisteria in our gardens. After many attempts, we now have a wisteria that blesses us with amazing blossoms. William Wordsworth painted with words and created a garden of verse that is still much loved.

    Thanks for your comment on my blog. My home is drying out slowly after the mishap and I am recovering slowly myself from having had to do the work. I hope to see an improvement in my health by the end of the summer.

    Hugs ~
    Heidi

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  26. It's hot here in the Midwest today - and your picture is so cooling and beautiful! Thanks for this one!

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  27. Great post for a isty day here in NY!

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  28. My dear Pamela...so good be back and read your posts..they are always beautiful little presents..You are a poet..

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  29. How breathtaking! Amazing photo!

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  30. Did I ever tell you that I worked as a waitress in a hotel in Grasmere one easter holiday when I was a student? I spent all my spare time chasing after Wordsworth!

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!