for 1. 1. 2018
…
A poem we came across fit our 2017 exactly — both our personal experience of it and impressions of the state of things everywhere. No matter how closely we paid attention to what should be perfectly insulated from ugliness — always a good idea — there was seemingly no escaping the spirit of the year.
From a quick check, we learnt that this poem could easily have been written during the Second World War. With more time, we’d be interested to know what was happening in the life of the frequently magnificent Robert Frost, then.
Not only sands and gravels
Were once more on their travels,
But gulping muddy gallons
Great boulders off their balance
Bumped heads together dully
And started down the gully.
Whole capes caked off in slices.
I felt my standpoint shaken
In the universal crisis.
But with one step backward taken
I saved myself from going.
A world torn loose went by me.
Then the rain stopped and the blowing,
And the sun came out to dry me.
‘One Step Backward Taken,’ Robert Frost, 1947
…
Here’s hoping for a rather different backdrop for 2018 …
H A P P Y N E W Y E A R
post-Gutenberg 
Beautiful photographs. Excellent poem.
Happy New Year, Cheryll, may 2018 be better (sent you an email too), John
Lovely to find this message from such a keen and fine observer of nature, just like R. Frost. I seem to remember that TSoTF begins with a wonderful description of a little woodland bird, singing (can’t check, at the moment, or reach the email account where you probably sent your second note). Thank you, John … and please look for my reply where you’ve posted your first image in 2018.