Dear reader,
In popular culture swans are renowned for their beauty, grace and loyalty. But they are also highly territorial and rather noisy. These large waterfowl are found in wetlands across all continents except Antarctica.
Swans have a long history evolving from ancient myths to a symbol of luxury and royalty in the Middle Ages and continuing as a cultural icon. Historically they were semi-domesticated for their meat with the British Monarch claiming unmarked swans, and the practice of marking ownership became a key part of their royal history.
In folklore they are widely represented as symbols of beauty, purity, love and transformation. The average lifespan of a swan is about 10/20 years in the wild. In captivity swans can live much longer with some individuals reaching 30/40 years.
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As the winter approaches I thought I would put on the blog some of your favourite poems. Today is 'The Mind Cupboard' which seemed to attract people from all over the world. How popular a poem seems that the subject is pretty universal. All humanity shares, I think, happiness and sadness to some degree and for the poems that I have written about these facts shows up in the responses I get. 'The Mind Cupboard' says it all.
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I have been having lots of nightmares lately and have decided to stop reading about the two WWs. I honestly think I could write a book about the Resistance in WW2 myself and feel it is time to stop the books. So what am I going to concentrate on now I wonder. Any ideas? Let me know please if you do.
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From Francis Kilvert October 25th 1874 in Wiltshire
'A damp warm morning steaming with heat, the outer air like a hothouse, the inner air colder, and in consequence the old thick panelled walls of the front rooms streaming with the warm air condensed on the cold walls...The afternoon was so gloomy that I was obliged for the first time to have lights in the pulpit.'
From William Cowper October 26th 1790 in Buckinghamshire
'A yellow shower of leaves is falling continually from all the trees in the country......The consideration of my short continuance here, which was once grateful to me, now fills me with regret. I would live and live always.'
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The Mind Cupboard My mind cupboard overflows with unwanted debris. It needs a spring clean. I will brush away the cobwebs of cheerless thoughts. Scrub out the stains of childhood. I will replace the brass hooks corroded with salt tears, empty all the screams hoarded through the years. I will replace the accumulated ashes from the worn shelf-paper, with virgin tissue. I will chase and catch the wasps, relieve them of their stings. I will refill this cupboard with love, and learnt, brighter things. *With best wishes, Patricia PS My email address is: patricia.huthellis@googlemail.com for book ideas please.