Seams
I have amassed a collection of books and pamphlets on the lead mining industry in the Yorkshire Dales. These inspired a book length collection ‘Seams’.
‘Water Blast Vein’ is based on a story told in ‘Swaledale A Portrait of a Yorkshire Mining Community’. I have published an extract of the book after the poem. The book is a signed copy and includes a section of the manuscript typed by Hardy. In some small way, maybe I can pass on the tragic story told by Fremie.
This poem is from 'Seams' and was inspired by a late summer walk on the moorland.
I am fascinated by the semantic field of mining and words which are slipping out of usage. The remains of the industry can still be found on the moors if you know where to look.
Awd Man is a collective term for generations of miners or an exhausted vein of ore. Windy king was one of various nicknames for a ventilation system. Peat hag is a form of erosion in peat. In my poetry, they take on the form of ancient and sometimes wise, mythical beings.
I spent many hours in the fascinating Swaledale Museum in Reeth. The wonderful Helen allowed me to poke around in drawers and cabinets. Documents, photographs and objects provide an insight into a past that would be lost if it were not for the museum.
The museum works with the local community and are a vital educational centre. They have always worked with writers and artists.
http://www.swaledalemuseum.org/
Physik is from the 'Seams' collection which was inspired by the lead mining industry in Swaledale. Helen showed me this wonderful colonic irrigation kit which used to be owned by a local doctor. It is complete with attachments in a beautiful box.
Nine Standards Rigg is an awe-inspiring place to walk to in the Yorkshire Dales. Despite extensive research, no one knows the origins or the age of these mysterious pillars of rock.
Second Prize winner in Readers' Award. Published in Orbis #189 Autumn 2019
Corpse Way has an ancestral force of images of roads before
and beyond man, the ‘carved’ roads of life.
Corpse Way needs thought: the individual verses can stand
alone, but the whole works backwards, the overwhelming sense of grief building
up with the father in the single lines interspersed between quatrains of modern
hikers clattering in boots, unaware of the millennia-old tragedy.
Corpse Way had me absolutely fascinated. Hugely evocative, and informative. I was impressed by the way she uses the structure to interweave the different elements and stories and vary the mood and tone. Brilliant.
Published in Orbis #189 Autumn 2019
'The last stanza was breathtaking.'
'Seams' is the title poem from a collection inspired by the post-industrial landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. It was written after walking Gunnerside Gill countless times.
I have a collection of Arthur Raistrick's books. They are a detailed historical record of the lead mining industry in the Dales. There are many treasures within their pages.
