Branches in their birthday suits

The thin night darkens. A breeze from the creased water sighs the streets close under Milk waking Wood. The Wood, whose every tree-foot's cloven in the black glad sight of the hunters of lovers...
~ Extract from 'Under Milk Wood' by Dylan Thomas

'Under Milk Wood' is a tantalising tome brimming with alliteration.



But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking “Nevermore."
~ Extract from 'The Raven' by Edgar Allen Poe

Once upon a time I lived in a grand house with a magical acorn named Emily. She introduced me to this dark and delightful poem.

An Autumn Anecdote

BOUYED ON THE heaven-ward whisper
Of dancing leaflets whirled
From all the woods that autumn
Bereaves in all the world.
And midst the fluttering legion
Of all that ever died
I follow, and before us
Goes the delightful guide,
With lips that brim with laughter
But never once respond,
And feet that fly on feathers,
And serpent-circled wand.


~Extract from 'A Shropshire Lad' by A. E. Housman



Blueberry picking in the mountains of Bodø, Norway, home of my heart and one of my dearest friends.



A cosy nook where I have been working since late Summer. I am now packing my suitcases and handkerchiefs on sticks and trundling to the magical Green Tree Gallery in Borde Hill where I am to be artist in residence in a shed!



Hallowe'en is creaking nearer like a pumpkin carriage on rusty wheels. My friend Ginger and I have long crumpled noses which we hide through the year and unfurl in October. Our first endeavours into pumpkin carving have grown beards.



But also given birth to a moonlit landscape scene...



Images © Pippa Chorley 2009