Spring social

I enjoyed another delightful evening of poetry, laughter and food earlier this week with my West Cumbrian literary friends.  The foggy evening in no way detracted from the evening’s theme of spring, as earlier, the day had been a beautiful gift of warm sunshine and gentle winds, a jewel in the golden crown heralding the new season

Our readings were varied with several of us choosing pieces from the talented and popular American poet Billy Collins. There were old favourites from Gerard Manley Hopkins and Wordsworth (no, not THAT one) and even an account of lambs racing from The Countrychild

Seasonal Celebrations

It has to be something special to draw me away from our log stove on a cold December evening, but last night, I left the house with a spring in my step, lured westwards by the thoughts of good company, conversation, poetry and food. The warmth of the community gathered in Papcastle was equal to that of my birch logs, as we shared favourite seasonal readings and poems, both old and contemporary, mined with love from a rich vein of literature.  Despite my sympathies with George Bernard Shaw’s curmudgeonly take on Christmas, what a perfect evening to begin the celebrations!