Sunday’s Poem is Tarantella

[Lyd12]

Do you remember an Inn,

Miranda?

Do you remember an Inn?

And the tedding and the spreading

Of the straw for a bedding,

And the fleas that tease in the High Pyrenees,

And the wine that tasted of the tar?

And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers

(Under the vine of the dark verandah)?

Do you remember an Inn, Miranda,

Do you remember an Inn?

And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers

Who hadn’t got a penny,

And who weren’t paying any,

And the hammer at the doors and the din?

And the hip! Hop! Hap!

Of the clap

Of the hands to the twirl and the swirl

Of the girl gone chancing,

Glancing,

Dancing,

Backing and advancing,

Snapping of the clapper to the spin

Out and in–

And the ting, tong, tang of the guitar!

Do you remember an Inn,

Miranda?

Do you remember an Inn?

Never more;

Miranda,

Never more.

Only the high peaks hoar:

And Aragon a torrent at the door.

No sound

In the walls of the halls where falls

The tread

Of the feet of the dead to the ground,

No sound:

But the boom

Of the far waterfall like doom.

By Hillier Belloc

[sassy59]

I really enjoyed reading that Iris. Thank you. Hope you’re managing to cope in this heat. Take care dear friend. Xxx🥰

[Izb1]

Thank you for your Sunday poems Iris, this one made me think of times gone by as some do. As Sassy says I hope you are coping with the heat, it is due to get very hot so take things easy x

[Damon1864 Volunteer]

Thank you for another lovely poem Iris I love reading them. Have a good day and stay cool take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🌻🌻

[Alberta56]

Funnily enough I took this poem to the last meeting of the poetry group I belong to. It's an old friend. When I was teaching I found the school kids enjoyed it too. Hope you are keeping well in spite of this dreadful heat. xxx

[Greenthorn]

Reading many of your poems Iris is like taking a jaunty ride on a jeep. I love the "ting, tong, tang" of the guitar! I wish I could have visited this Inn back in the day!.

[knitter]

Coincidence …..I googled it just recently and also found a you tube video.

Remember the poem from school a long long time ago . We had a poetry lesson every week …Palgraves Golden Treasury .

[Tykelady in reply to knitter]

Oh my word! I'd completely forgotten that.

[Australia06]

Lovely poem Nana, nice to see your Sunday poems are back! Did some knitting today for the first time in a long time and thought of you xx hope you’re alright in the heat

[Lyd12 in reply to Australia06]

Glad you enjoyed the poem Tarentella. Will try to keep cool today, the house gets very warm. Chris’ cats try to find a cool place, under a bush, under a car, which is dangerous. I am reading a book by Hugh Walpole called Judith Paris. Have you read any of the Adrian Mole series, by Sue Townsend? A light, easy entertaining series,love Nana xx

[Australia06 in reply to Lyd12]

Hope the cats are alright, I can’t wait to see them after losing Tilly I’ve been missing having cats around. I don’t think I have read any Adrian Mole books, but I recognise the author. Hope you enjoy Judith Paris, sounds interesting. I’m reading the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy right now, very entertaining though quite confusing!

[Donald_1931 in reply to Lyd12]

I remember binge reading all the Adrian Moles books, unable to put them down. Thanks for posting Tarentella, I remember reading that too, which could have been as far back as my school days. Take care in this hot weather Iris. Don & Puss xx

[watergazer]

Hope you’re keeping well Iris. I love that poem. I like the poems of Hillaire Belloc or is it Hillier xx

[Walkwalkwalk]

Thanks for sharing this poem IrisI do love it.

I have been looking at a lot of previously read books but I had forgotten the Adrian Mole series. Another to look up.

I am reading “ We measure the earth with our bodies “. It’s a new first novel by Tsering Yangzom Lama but with lots of references about the early invasion of Tibet.

Enjoy Judith Paris.

Grace

[HollyBoyd]

Hello Iris. Hope this finds you in good spirits and managing to stay cool, difficult. Thank you for the poem, I really enjoyed it, good to see your Sunday poems again. Take care xxx 😊

[Morrison10]

Thanks for that very different poem, many years since read it. Hope can keep cool, looking forward to cooler day tomorrow, we’re never satisfied! Best regards, Jean x