Poetry Wednesday; Winter Seascape

Winter Seascape
 by John Betjeman

The sea runs back against itself
With scarcely time for breaking wave
To cannonade a slatey shelf
And thunder under in a cave.

Before the next can fully burst
The headwind, blowing harder still,
Smooths it to what it was at first -
A slowly rolling water-hill.

Against the breeze the breakers haste,
Against the tide their ridges run
And all the sea's a dappled waste
Criss-crossing underneath the sun.

Far down the beach the ripples drag
Blown backward, rearing from the shore,
And wailing gull and shrieking shag
Alone can pierce the ocean roar.

Unheard, a mongrel hound gives tongue,
Unheard are shouts of little boys;
What chance has any inland lung
Against this multi-water noise?

Here where the cliffs alone prevail
I stand exultant, neutral, free,
And from the cushion of the gale
Behold a huge consoling sea.

http://www.johnbetjeman.com/

John Betjeman

a short biography

When John Betjeman’s Collected Poems came out in 1958 they made publishing history and have since sold over two and a quarter million copies.

But Betjeman was not only a poet. Through his broadcasting and journalism he opened people’s eyes to the value of the buildings and landscape around them and became Britain’s grand champion of its heritage. 

Paintings by Sir Peter Scott:

a short biography
http://www.wwt.org.uk/about-us/our-founder

 He foresaw that conservation of wildlife depends on safeguarding habitats and, crucially, on involving and inspiring peopl. Long before it became widely acknowledged, WWT's founder Sir Peter Scott recognised the threat human activity poses to the environment. He foresaw that conservation of wildlife depends on safeguarding habitats and, crucially, on involving and inspiring people. The wetland centres he set up provide more than a sanctuary; they allow people to get up close to, enjoy and learn about wildlife. He remained at the forefront of conservation throughout his life. In 1973 he became the first person to be knighted for services to conservation, and his legacy continues to break new ground.

Sir Peters paintings

As a young man, Sir Peter established himself as a leading wildlife artist. His scientific interest developed in parallel to his artistic interest, a balance that was a theme of his life. His final painting, left unfinished on its easel, is of his vision for the WWT London Wetland Centre bringing wetland wildlife to the heart of the city. London Wetland Centre opened 11 years later and is respected worldwide as a model for urban conservation.