Sunday, April 27, 2025

Sunday 27th April 2025

 

A poem by Ted Hughes.  This is the ruined church he is talking about.  The newer 19th century church stands alongside the old in the same graveyard.  We visited on a grey and miserable day and the photos turned B/W of their own accord.  The old church was built in the 13th century and was named  Saint Thomas a Becket.  The west wall face of the tower fell down in 1847 because of a storm.

                                       Heptonstall Old Church

A great bird landed here.  Its song drew men out of rock,

Living men out of bog and heather.

Its song put a light in the valleys

And harness on the long moors.

Its song brought a crystal from space

And set it in men's heads.

Then the bird died.

It's giant bones 

Blackened and became a mystery.

The crystal in men's heads

Blackened and fell to pieces.

The valleys went out,

The moorland broke loose.



6 comments:

  1. In spite of his personal life, Hughes really was a good poet.

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  2. He caught the drama of life whether through 'Pike' or 'Thought Fox' my two favourite poems. His personal life was private; our speculation would never uncover any truths. Though Sylvia Plath is buried in the graveyard, but those who must inflict their own views on the world, have tried to erase the name of Hughes - they did not succeed.

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  3. Goodness, that must have been some storm as the church ruins look so solid.

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  4. Well as they did not mend the old church the damage must have been great Ellen.

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  5. Yes, a beautifully melancholic building that captures the fugacious and fragility for human life and time.
    In which town is this old church thelma.?
    Hope you had a nice weekend.
    liam.

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    1. Thank you for a new word Liam. The town is Heptonstall, situated above Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall is a very Northern weaver's town. Dark grey terraced cottages and narrow tiny lanes. Also known for the resting place of Sylvia Plath and the 'King of the Coiners' David Hartley.

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