22 Comments
Sep 27, 2023Liked by M. E. Rothwell

Such a lovely poem--really enjoyed reading and then listening to this. It popped up today at the top of my inbox in the app due to the little glitch in the code/system, but honestly, sometimes those “irregularities” carry gifts of their own, like this poem perhaps, which I missed a couple of months ago. Anyway, also appreciate seeing the vibrant red image/graphic.🟥👌

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Thank you so much!

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Jun 26, 2023·edited Jun 26, 2023Liked by M. E. Rothwell

This reminded me of Wordsworth. I don't know why.

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The board game?

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I meant the poet Wordsworth, my typo.

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Ah that is far too kind. Thank you!

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Excellent sonnet! I love both the message and the execution. "Do look, do fear!" feels especially timely to me right now. Thanks for taking this risk and sharing this with us.

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Thanks Jason! As an excellent poet, your words mean more than most.

Was just looking at it again this morning and I realised my metre completely switches around in line 5 and then back again in line 6 - how did I miss that! 🙈 Ah well, onto the next one

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Whether it is an actual mountain climb or a metaphor for life's challenges, it really works. The opening four lines are top drawer, enviable.

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Ah thank you! That’s so kind of you to say. Btw I’m never sure what name to refer to you as in the comments, Feasts seems a tad impersonal!

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Ah just clicked through to your About Page and seen it’s JoJo! Nice to e-meet you JoJo!

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Ah, long story short, we closed a deli and folk asked how they could follow us on our next adventure - we created Feasts + Fables as a holding 'identity'. JoJo is the chef and grower, Feasts, and I am Barrie, the scribbler, Fables. I managed to persuade JoJo to write about life in our French smallholding ... I'm the Encourager so I get my own space to encourage. And I have 'Just Write, Right' to kick my ass to actually share some of my writing. So, mostly, always, it's me Barrie reading and commenting and JoJo sitting in the background saying 'are you going to get off Substack for a while'! Are you Mike?

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Ah apologies, Barrie! Most people call me Mikey but Mike is fine too.

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Gosh, no worries. Made me realise how confusing our set up is. Mikey it is then, if I might be so bold!

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Be bold!

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No risk whatsoever in embarrassing yourself. This is honestly brilliant!

Particularly the parts around those lines "who are you to dare to dream" . . .

It is so evocative of that strange mix of sheer awe, terror, inspiration and despair when looking up at a mountain peak (Or any great wonder of Nature, really)

And really enjoyed the cadence of you reading the poem too.

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You are far too kind!

I think awe is an emotion that is worth changing. Whether it’s from a mountain vista, the immensity of the night sky, or just a really really good piece of art, it’s a big part of what makes life worth living, imho.

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Chasing!

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That’s quite good. 😀

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I’ll take quite good! Thanks Roland!

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A timeless conversation between man and mountain

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Ah thanks, Priya!

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