July 2020: The Garden, Sort Of… #poem #poetry #garden

Posted on Aug 3, 2020 by TanGental

Tomorrow I will be announcing something about my poetry dilemma but before then here are some pictures from the July garden. At the end, after the customary piccy of Dog, there’s a poem, based on another famous poem, this time by Kipling and based on the English Garden.

Let’s start with July 1st and let’s see how things change as the month progresses

Then we get to the middle of the month

And then we end the month like this

Of course there was some wildlife to admire

The Vet WFH…

And Dog..

The Glory Of The Garden

This is based on Rudyard Kiplingā€™s The Glory of the Garden

Our England is a garden that is full of stately views,

Though youā€™d really have to wonder if you listened to the news.

The anchors turn you icy with all their talk of wars

While sneery politicians debate like old pub bores.

*

But while they focus their trite ire on running down the clock

The world that matters to us all is preparing its own shock.

Itā€™s fed up with the disregard with which weā€™ve treated it

And soon enough will prove to us weā€™ve not defeated it.

*

With little thought for others we have wasted natureā€™s gift

And made a virtue out of spending when sense demanded thrift

Consumption of resources has become our default state

And while we try and change our habits it may be far too late.

*

The icecaps are receding as the desert centre grows

And winter months seem like June with little chance of snow.

And all the time that the chatteratiā€™s attention is elsewhere

Our hopes of changing course are as doomed as the polar bear.

*

So enjoy those simple pleasures in Englandā€™s pleasant garden

Before natureā€™s patience ends and her heart begins to harden.

For itā€™s not beyond imagining that soon will come the day

When the Glory of Englandā€™s Garden shall finally pass away.

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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33 Responses to July 2020: The Garden, Sort Of… #poem #poetry #garden

  1. Ritu says:
    Aug 3, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    Glorious!!!

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Jane Sturgeon says:
    Aug 3, 2020 at 2:24 pm

    Geoff, your garden is a riot of loving colour. Thank you for sharing. šŸ™‚

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Becky Ross Michael says:
    Aug 3, 2020 at 2:54 pm

    Such lovely gardens; what a joy it must be to work, sit, and walk among all that beauty! I love your heartfelt poem and hold the same types of fears about our home, Earth.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Jennifer Barricklow says:
    Aug 3, 2020 at 7:02 pm

    A very apt adaptation of Kipling. Nicely done! And of course the photos are delightful. What a bountiful (and beautiful) onion harvest you had! šŸ™‚

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Erika says:
    Aug 3, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    Your garden is one big gem with countless facets. What a realm of beauty and life. BEAUTIFUL!!

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Elizabeth says:
    Aug 3, 2020 at 9:15 pm

    I am intrigued by the overlap between what you grow and what we grow. Some things won’t tolerate our extreme heat, such as the lovely fuchsia you have early in the month. Other things seem a few weeks behind here. I see that you have not had the turkeys eat your apples as we did here! Also you seem free of woodchuck, coyote and rabbit, at least in your photos.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Suzanne says:
    Aug 3, 2020 at 9:23 pm

    The benefits of vision and hard work – one tranquil and beautiful garden, and my favourites are those giant sunflowers amongst others, and of course, dog. That must be the only dog who loves to sit next to a vet šŸ˜‰

    Liked by 1 person

  8. JT Twissel says:
    Aug 3, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    Definitely a place for poetry! I truly hope the glory of England’s gardens will last a long long time.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. willowdot21 says:
    Aug 3, 2020 at 10:09 pm

    Your garden is wonderful, your dog a beaut and your poem just the tops šŸ’œ

    Liked by 1 person

  10. derrickjknight says:
    Aug 4, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    Based on this you hardly need our help to advise on what will be at its best at the end of August, or any other month for that matter. šŸ™‚ Fine poem.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Pam Lazos says:
    Aug 4, 2020 at 4:31 pm

    ā€œChatteratiā€!! Love that, the sustainable prose, and the gorgeous garden photos! Poet, writer, gardener and photographer all wrapped up in one. Huzzah!

    Liked by 1 person

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