Patrick grew up in Purbeck and the spirit of the place – the scenery, geology, poetry and memories of his father retain a place in his poetry. He’s included some personal views of Purbeck but the themes of geology and coast come into this area of interest. Poetry of place is important, as Purbeck has been the rock on which he has built his life story – and a house!
Peveril Point is where the Purbeck Limestone - the building stone for so many Purbeck houses
– runs into the sea.
Peveril Point (Purbeck Limestone) with the chalk and Old Harry in the background (PC)
Chapmans Pool is where Patrick and young friends fished with prawn pots “live produce from the sea”:
Over Chapman’s Pool towards Kimmeridge (PC)
They are a hardy crowd
Hewn from purbeck limestone
Nestled on home-built throne
Don’t shout it loud
They are a hardy crowd
Hewn from purbeck limestone
Shades of grey and green
Glimmer of moon over the sea
Pastelled hillsides see
Scarred by lynchet-striped scene
Shades of grey and green
Glimmer of moon over the sea
There is but one square of colour
Like a string of bunting
Who is then counting
As yellowhammers clamour
There is but one square of colour
Like a string of bunting
Every year we return
Like prodigals we come back
Nothing much has changed, alack
Just beach and climate, we learn
Every year, havering to return
Like prodigals we’ve come back
Inspired by Thomas Hardy’s “Overlooking the River Stour”
St Aldhelm’s Head from Emmet Hill (PC)
“shades of grey and green”
Champion nurdler, Mary
Sees plastic in sea
Long before others were wary
On hearing at the Square & Compass that Mary was to be recognised for her pioneering efforts
Harvested from a withy bed,
those lithe red-brown saplings
twisted and twined into
a structure primed to trap
live produce from the sea.
How many years has nature
delivered this bountiful cycle
begotten from the willow stumps?
My creel now hangs dried,
gnarled as the fingers that wrought it.
His knife that trimmed the withies
was a curved and functional blade.
With a single deft slice,
to leave the butt close-cropped,
ready to sprout afresh the next year
Purbeck prawn pot (PC)