Poetry Path – August

I first blipped this path near Kirkby Stephen last month. As the project was to depict activities associated with a hill farmer’s year, there are obviously twelve. So I thought I would try to blip each one in the appropriate month.

Here is August. The stone, hidden amongst trees is carved on both sides of a naturally curved piece of stone – a remnant of a wind sculpted pillar of sandstone, which is 250 million years old, taken from a quarry in the locality. The poem describes late summer. The carved motif, which you can just see here, depicts showing sheep in agricultural shows, which take place in August all around here. A close up of the motif and a little of the carved lettering is here.

Crabapples tart on the tongue,
Hazelnuts milky
Rosehips cool in the hand,
Thistledown silky.

Squirrel is speaking his mind.
Knapweed purples the banks.
For touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing
I give thanks.