Wednesday, December 09, 2009

THEME THURSDAY: SNOW




One of the most vivid memories of snow for me comes from the first moment I read of Lucy Pevensey, stepping further up and further in, into the wardrobe and through the snow laden mystical world of Narnia. As a young girl first becoming introduced to the brilliant C.S. Lewis’ mystical imaginative story, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, I felt Lucy’s wonder, her fascination, and marvel as she looked beyond the fur coats, to the hemlocks adorned with weighty white heavenly powder. Through Lewis’ words, I could feel the cold wind on her face as she moved through the woods to reveal the world that would be forever winter.

Lewis’ inspiration is said to have been a desire to see his beloved County Down covered in snow, therefore, he imagined it was so through the pages of his Chronicles. Though the world of Narnia was under a curse to be forever winter, I see this present season of snow as a blessing- a time to question and explore one’s thoughts fantasies and imagination. Whilst often bound indoors, my mind is pressed to explore hidden ideas, welcoming fantastic realms that are often hidden from plain view in the midst of the warmth of summertime and its outdoor reverie. Snow –filled evenings woo me to settle indoors in front of the fire, with little more than my soul for companionship, to explore places in my mind which have been untapped, to create, to love, and to dream…..




Snow
Lyrics by Archibald Lampman (1861-1899)
Music by Loreena McKennitt

White are the far-off plains, and white
The fading forests grow;
The wind dies out along the height,
And denser still the snow,
A gathering weight on roof and tree,
Falls down scarce audibly.

The road before me smoothes and fills
Apace, and all ahout
The fences dwindle, and the hills
Are blotted slowly out;
The naked trees loom spectrally
Into the dim white sky.

The meadows and far-sheeted streams
Lie still without a sound;
Like some soft minister of dreams
The snow-fall hoods me round;
In wood and water, earth and air,
A silence everywhere.

Save when at lonely intervals
Some farmer's sleigh, urged on,
With rustling runners and sharp bells
Swings by me and is gone;
Or from the empty waste I hear
A sound remote and clear.

The barking of a dog, or call
To cattle, sharply pealed,
Borne echoing from some wayside stall
Or barnyard far afield;

Then all is silent and the snow falls
Settling soft and slow.
The evening deepens and the grey
Folds closer earth and sky
The world seems shrouded, far away.

Its noises sleep, and I as secret as
Yon buried stream plod dumbly on and dream.

21 comments:

Michael said...

Yes, I get what you say here. But, ah, to have a fireplace as well? Well, that is how snow should ultimately be enjoyed--from the comfort of a hearth, indoors, warm and snug, whilst one's mind is free to venture out in that magic!

I love that scene when Lucy goes through the wardrobe. I thought the latest Narnia "Wardrobe" movie did a spectacular version of it, just as I imagined from the book.

Wonderful post and of course, I too love Loreen McKennit's music, this song included.

Ronda Laveen said...

Yes, to come through the fireplace is incredibly perfect and correct.

Brian Miller said...

your sentiments on lewis' tales...i too look for those hidden places of possibility...it is so magical! happy tt!

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

Hi Hon, One of my fav. Movies.
We don't get much snow here . But the other day we did have a little white on the ground.
I want to wish you the merriest Christmas and May God Bless you.
XXOO Marie Antionette

Anonymous said...

Aaahhh...a warm fire when it's snowing, a cup of warm tea and a soft throw sounds so cozy. The absolute best time to let your mind go to think and create is "with little more than my soul for companionship". We can hear our inner voice when it is quiet.
Have a lovely day, Rebecca!

Tess Kincaid said...

Lovely thoughts on snow, Rebecca. And the Loreena McKennitt is perfect!

Anonymous said...

Hi Rebecca is see you joined mmm's creative play. I loved the Narnia stories too. Did not discover them until the movie was made. It is snowing up a storm here in B'town today. Hope for all the travelers it's not too bad.
QMM

JeffScape said...

Yes! The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe had a big effect on me, as well.

However, the last book in the series just about ruined the phrase "further up, further in" for me. I hated that ending.

Wings1295 said...

Never got much into The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. But I love the poem you posted. And again, between that, the music and the falling snow... this site is just serenity. Nap time, once again!

Rebecca said...

Wings, Nap time, eh? LOL!! Thanks for the much-needed laugh.

...So glad my little Tea utopia entices you to venture to the land of nod;)...

Tom said...

that's about all i remember from the LW and W...pretty poem and background music! Happy TT

e said...

Your blog is indeed serene. Thanks and Happy Thursday to you!

ChaChaneen said...

Just lovely! Your talent for writing is just so much fun for me to read! My sister surprised me with a complete Audio CD set of ALL the books and they are amazing! She was in B&N and they were on clearance for $15... crazy price and she knew I would lurve them and I do! It's a really nice set too complete with great voices and sound effects!

We had a dusting of snow this week and it's been so much fun to enjoy!

Leah said...

I loved all the books in that series, but "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" had a huge impact on me as well. Thank you so very much for reminding me!

And the lyrics are just wonderful.

ZipZip said...

Dear Rebecca,
The snow poem is terrific. I love its rhythm. Reading it, I remember quite viscerally walking home from school as it snowed, the hemlocks drooping with the weight, the very occasional car muffled to near silence by the whitened road, the crystal tinkling of icy water at the waterfall next the little bridge, where the flow had built ice caverns and pinnacles for me to dream over, and as I came closer to home __ it was a long walk -- sometimes the bells from the carillon on Cornell's campus, rung by a student practicing, sounding like the tower had gone under a blanket, and then suddenly like it was just around the bend. I miss those walks, and cold as I would get, generally I went at a mosey. Why hurry when life was so beautifully malencholy?

Anonymous said...

Been so long since I read these( I've yet to see any of the film versions ). And the last line here pretty much covers it all, wot? Nice, very nice :)

Zuzana said...

I agree with everything in your post!:) I too love snow, there is something infinitely magical about the way it falls and the way it crates this tranquil atmosphere. My first recollection of snow is from my childhood and the whipped cream covered trees in the mountains, where I was born.
Have a lovely Friday,
xo
Zuzana

Baino said...

We're mad fans of the Chronicles of Narnia and the movie was great! Actually both were pretty good Funny how things are so silent when snow falls. Here it's all cockatoos and crickets!

G said...

What a wonderful post... I love the scene in the novel where Lucy discovers Narnia, and have been drawn to lone lamposts ever since. Your header image is wonderful too!

prashant said...

I thought the latest Narnia "Wardrobe" movie did a spectacular version of it, just as I imagined from the book.

Work from home India

Anonymous said...

Rebecca,
Let is snow. Softly fallen flakes.
I love the poetry here, Rebecca... and C.S. Lewis is the best when it comes to children's characterizations. I loved the latest Narnia "Wardrobe".....are you getting ready for the big day?
The Bach