Tuesday 3 February 2009

London, My London (The Day the Snow Came)

Monday 2nd February 2009. The heaviest snowfall in 18 years has covered London in white. And on the street, children play together, chucking snowballs at each other, or at passing cars (the few daredevils who venture out in this weather) or instead the children take good aim at a bobby on the beat who smiles and returns the favour, outnumbered as he/she is, notwithstanding. On days like these my adopted city looks regal and my imagination soars away. Many thanks, winter, many thanks, snow and many thanks, London, my London.


The Thought-Fox

I imagine this midnight moment's forest:
Something else is alive
Beside the clock's loneliness
And this blank page where my fingers move.
Through the window I see no star:

Something more near
Though deeper within darkness
Is entering the loneliness:
Cold, delicately as the dark snow
A fox's nose touches twig, leaf;

Two eyes serve a movement, that now
And again now, and now, and now
Sets neat prints into the snow
Between trees, and warily a lame
Shadow lags by stump and in hollow
Of a body that is bold to come

Across clearings, an eye,
A widening deepening greenness,
Brilliantly, concentratedly,
Coming about its own business
Till, with a sudden sharp hot stink of fox
It enters the dark hole of the head.
The window is starless still; the clock ticks,
The page is printed.

By Ted Hughes

19 comments:

  1. Oh....I'm glad you finally got your snowy city!

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  2. Que belleza, como me gusta la nieve amigo. Vete a jugar con los ninos!

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  3. Your London looks a lot like Ohio today! Enjoy your winter wonderland. I loved your snowy pix and the Lovely Ted Hughes.

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  4. What is happening to the London I know and love?? haven't seen scenes like this since my childhood!! When we used to slide down hills on tea trays... And I have just come back from a weekend at the beach.....My new world is just a little different...!!

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  5. It's beautiful as are the words of Ted Hughes. While much of the US is waiting for Spring we are actually going snow chasing up north in a week or so, a reprieve from the desert heat and sun.

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  6. I hope you and the kids will have a chance to make a snow man/woman/child. We are facing water rationing here in California due to lack of precipitation.

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  7. All that snow blanketing the city is so purifying. Snow changes sound, softens it.
    Sly fox, thanks to Ted Hughes.
    Lyn

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  8. I've enjoyed looking at (blog) pictures of snowy London...yay for white winters!

    The Hughes poem was lovely.

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  9. Look at those cars! I had to brush the snow off of mine yesterday. It took me 15 minutes!!

    It was a day to remember. Lovely!

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  11. Tes photos m'ont fait penser à un poème de la québécoise Anne Hébert.

    NEIGE, MYSTÈRE DE LA PAROLE
    La neige nous met en rêve
    Sur de vastes plaines,
    Sans traces ni couleur.

    Veille mon cœur,
    La neige nous met en selle
    Sur des coursiers d’écume.

    Sonne l’enfance couronnée,
    La neige nous sacre en haute-mer,
    Plein songe,
    Toute voile dehors.

    La neige nous met en magie.
    Blancheur étale.
    Plumes gonflées
    Où perce l’œil de cet oiseau.

    Mon cœur :
    Trait de feu sous des palmes de gel
    Fille de sang qui m’émerveille.

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  12. Thanks for your post, I can imagine London with snow... and the white Hide Park with its frozen speakers!!! Have nice snowy days!

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  13. Many thanks for your kind comments.

    Greetings from London.

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  14. Can this be London? Amazing! You sound so happy to have your wintry wishes come true. The poem fits the mood.

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  15. Lovely. Wow. London in the snow. I really only ever experienced that once.

    When I read your "London, My London" it is so bittersweet. Wait! that is My London i think but it isn't, not anymore. I t breaks my heart that for some who didn't grow up there it is their's now to enjoy (glad for that) but here i am stuck in the Rockies of all places for good most likely...If it wasn't so darn expensive for one!!

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  16. Me acordé de ti cuando lei que había caido una nevada por allá.
    Disfrutala!
    Saludos,
    Al Godar

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  17. Many thanks for your kind comments.

    Yes, mmm, I perfectly understand your feeling. I guess that some people are lucky to fall for the city where their destin takes them and some others are not so lucky. I belong to the former group. And, mate, it is STILL YOUR LONDON :-)!

    Greetings from London.

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  18. We have heard of this snow even all the way across the 'pond' to here. It sure looks lovely and what a treat in the winter! I hope you do not have to drive though-best to take a tram or train on days like this one:)

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  19. I loved this snow, tina. I really did. Many thanks for you comment.

    Greetings from London.

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