British poet John Betjeman was a great lover of place; he celebrated locale in a way that greatly endeared him to his readers. The local parish church, the small town, city neighborhoods and gardens — all fell under his wry and sensitive gaze. A Ring of Bells is a collection of his poems selected for young readers by Irene Slade. It’s an old book, published in 1962, but definitely worth perusing to get the flavor of a poet deeply ensconced in his local world. Here’s a playful example with place names from his poem “A Lincolnshire Tale:”
Kirkby with Muckby-cum-Sparrowby-cum-Sphinx
Is down a long lane in the county of Lincs,
And often on Wednesdays, well-harnessed and spruce,
I would drive into Wiss over Winderby Sluice.
Betjeman’s focus on place was explored in prose as well as poetry. He wrote numerous books about church architecture and English towns which are also worth perusing. In honor of Betjeman’s centenary in 2006, a poetry competition for young people was launched. The John Betjeman Young People’s Poetry Prize is now in its third year and is open to 11-14 year olds living in the United Kingdom. Entrants are to submit one poem about their local surroundings. The competition was launched to encourage young people to think about the importance of place. This year’s deadline is coming up soon on August 31.
What about where you live? Are you inspired by the buildings of your city or by the natural settings of your cottage or farm? Have you ever wondered about your city or street’s name? Are there poets who have wrested those familiar sites of your world into words that resonate and move you?
Today’s Poetry Friday host is Andromeda Jazmon at A Wrung Sponge.