Monday, June 16, 2008

Country Things


Moss on the roof, vines covering the wooden siding. The only creatures using the old barn are swallows. The windows are gone. Old harness hangs on a peg, left long ago when the horse teams were replaced by a tractor.
















One of my favorite Robert Frost poems:

The Need Of Being Versed In Country Things

THE house had gone to bring again
To the midnight sky a sunset glow.
Now the chimney was all of the house that stood,
Like a pistil after the petals go

The barn opposed across the way,
That would have joined the house in flame
Had it been the will of the wind, was left
To bear forsaken the place's name.

No more it opened with all one end
For teams that came by the stony road
To drum on the floor with scurrying hoofs
And brush the mow with the summer load.

The birds that came to it through the air
At broken windows flew out and in,
Their murmur more like the sigh we sigh
From too much dwelling on what has been.

Yet for them the lilac renewed its leaf,
And the aged elm, though touched with fire;
And the dry pump flung up an awkward arm;
And the fence post carried a strand of wire.

For them there was really nothing sad.
But though they rejoiced in the nest they kept,
One had to be versed in country things
Not to believe the phoebes wept

14 comments:

Cordwood Cabin said...

Hello Lilacs and Roses! Thanks so much for saying hello -- we loved your blog, with all its posts on gardening and your lovely pics (someone I knew once said photography is always challening, always rewarding, and the ultimate modern Impressionism). We look forward to reading your future posts!

Cordwood Cabin said...

Hello Lilacs and Roses! Thanks so much for saying hello -- we loved your blog, with all its posts on gardening and your lovely pics (someone I knew once said photography is always challening, always rewarding, and the ultimate modern Impressionism). We look forward to seeing what you add next!

Chanda said...

Marnie, Thank you for stopping by my blog- Front Porches- I love visitors and meeting new people. You seem to love dogs and flowers also. I want to check out your blog more and also listen to some of your music you have listed as fav's. I always looking to discover new music.
You take wonderful pictures too.
O also like horses as we raise them. Reg Quarters. We have a Hancock bred staillon we call Chub.
We aren't breding many mare right now with the price of corn and horses so very cheep. I miss doing that.

beckie said...

Lovely post! Frost is one of my favorite poets.

Iowa Victory Gardener said...

Marnie, that building (and photo) just scream 'knowing character,' in the sense that it has seen much in many years and has the signs to prove it.

The Frost poem is fitting here. Even though he's never been one of my favorites (I'm much more inclined to late 19th century Frenchies), I've always appreciated his place in the canon. American Lit has never been my strong point, I must admit ... I'm too firmly rooted in the European tradition I guess. :-)

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Cordwood Cabin. I certainly admired your creations. Very unique. The banshee stays in my mind. She reminds me of me on a bad day;)

I'm glad you stopped by. My photography is enjoyable but I just record I don't even attempt to create art.
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Shanda, raising horses was a money looser for me too. I was always trying to breed that perfect halter/pleasure prospect;)

Thanks for stopping by. See you soon.
Marnie

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Becki, I agree about Frost. He's one of, if not my very favorite poet.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Iowa Victory Gardener, isn't it interesting to study a building and imagine what it has seen over its lifetime? This old barn has seen good times and bad and a lot of hard work over the last 100+ years.

Anonymous said...

Hi Marnie! Glad you found me! It sounds from your profile that you keep yourself pretty busy; glad you are enjoying the single life! Your barn picture is inspiring me to take a picture of this old barn and silo sitting out in the middle of a field off a major highway; I'm just afraid of getting hit so I am trying to get a picture from a safe distance. It is kind of spooky looking! Stop by again - Jeannette

me ann my camera said...

This is a wonderful old photo with so much colour, texture and richness to it. Also I like Frost too. Glad am I that you visited by blog for it led me here..

Roses and Lilacs said...

Me ann my camera, so glad you came to visit me. Thanks for your comments. I thought your photos were great.

Leedra said...

Love the old shed, or barn. Great photo.

Roses and Lilacs said...

Leedra, thank you, and thanks for stopping in for a visit.

I loved your site. I will be back to say hello and catch up on what's new.
Marnie