Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
poliphilo: (Default)
[personal profile] poliphilo
The hawthorn is in flower. My favourite tree. My favourite time of year. Hey nonny nonny.

But that smell- the reek of death with a aftertaste of honey. I had thought of putting one of my own poems here, but it was a very old poem and when I looked at it again I saw it was in dire need of washing and ironing. So here instead is an acknowledged classic by Walter de la Mare.

"THE HAWTHORN HATH A DEATHLY SMELL"

The flowers of the field
Have a sweet smell;
Meadowsweet, tansy, thyme,
And faint-heart pimpernel;
But sweeter even than these,
The silver of the may
Wreathed is with incense for
The Judgment Day.

An apple, a child, dust,
When falls the evening rain,
Wild brier's spicèd leaves,
Breathe memories again;
With further memory fraught,
The silver of the may
Wreathed is with incense for
The Judgment Day.

Eyes of all loveliness--
Shadow of strange delight,
Even as a flower fades
Must thou from sight;
But oh, o'er thy grave's mound,
Till come the Judgment Day,
Wreathed shall with incense he
Thy sharp-thorned may.

Date: 2004-05-16 03:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] catvalente.livejournal.com
By the way, I'd like to look at your writing to, if I'm allowed.

Date: 2004-05-16 03:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
You are. I'd be honoured.

I sent Anaiis one of the four completed novels. I can send you the same one (my favourite, but not necessarily the best)- or I can send something different. There are three novels set in the present- and there is an historical romance (set in the 1460s). All have a touch of weirdness. Try as I might (and I don't try particularly hard) sooner or later a ghost comes sliding through the door.

You choose.

Date: 2004-05-16 03:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] catvalente.livejournal.com
Send me what you think is most representative.

Are you looking for publishers and what not?

Date: 2004-05-16 03:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com
Yes, I'm looking for publishers, but I'm not much good at selling myself. Bit of a shrinking violet if know what I mean.

If you want the most representative, then that's probably the romance. It's the most recent piece and the one in which I decided I'd just let my hair down and have fun. And I had so much fun that I'm now writing a sequel. I'll send it as an email attachment...

Profile

poliphilo: (Default)
poliphilo

January 2026

S M T W T F S
     1 23
4 5 6 7 8 910
1112 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25262728293031

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Page generated Jan. 25th, 2026 11:50 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios