This poem accompanied one of the paintings that went on exhibition at Southwell Minster, where I wrote a poem for each painting. It was so lovely to see them in that beautiful setting. The area they were in was a shadowed place with the cool grey stones and tall columns making it seem eternal. Here we are approaching Christmas, which is itself full of mystery, wonder and eternity.
LOVELY WINTER
Bitter winter, I exult in you.
You are my gift, my shroud, my winding sheet,
My creative death,
Pausing me in a frozen still-life
So that other life can break in,
Changing still-life to full life.
Lovely, lovely winter,
With all your subtle colour,
Your peerless blues and high violets flushing
the snow,
Your avalanche of lemon light and tender light
Whose sight
Makes me shake and shiver,
Shaking loose the hidden smoulder
Of scarlet tipped berries burning through darkness.
Those bonfires of memory reminding us
Of the steady scintillation of our hearts.
How I love your cold breath
Blowing me always into a new passion.
Blow, winter winds!
Blow your bitter chills until the sky dances,
The sea rages
And all the plump little mermaids
Leap to the surface of the holy water.
Mermaids who laugh at the scunning ships,
At the flag-sailed ships of myth and story,
Bringing us cargoes of dreams and coral and lost sea-horses,
All touched with glory.
Look! Look!
Look at the beauty of winter.
Look at the white peacocks flirting with the frosty hoar.
Look at the dark clouds racing darkly over the water
Towards the great-beaked swan
Who pecks gold from the tight-skeined air.
©2019 Gwen Grant
My story BROWN BABY is in here
along with all the other fabulous
Christmas stories.
Denis Pepper Editor
CHRISTMAS STORIES
Oxford University Press 1986
Poems by Gwen Grant 
How many paintings (and poems!) were there on display? How much time did you have to create the poems? What an amazing project!
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Gwen, this is just replete with gorgeous lines! The opening line really sucked me in because of the inherent contradiction and implicit mystery contained in the idea of exulting in something “bitter.” I love the color descriptions, too, the way you see the colors within the white landscape, the “high violets” and the “avalanche of lemon light” (beautiful, alliterative line!). Exult, you do!
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Beautiful. I love the descriptivness of the poem. Very visual on it’s own.
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Gwen! Your poem is tremendously beautiful!!!
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Thanks very much, Liz. Hope you have a happy Christmas.Gwen.
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How kind of you, Camilla. I very much appreciate your comments.
Gwen.
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There were , I think, 5 or 6 paintings. I had time to choose the paintings I loved and work on them until the poems were finished. Her work was nonrepresentational and very inspirational. Really, they spoke to me! So glad you liked the poems and thank you for telling me so.
Gwen.
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How kind of you, Sharon. I so appreciate your comments. Here’s hoping you have a lovely Christmas.
Gwen.
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You are so welcome Gwen! Such a great pleasure! Wishing a wonderful Christmas! See you again here soon! X
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Gwen, your description of Winter is exquisitely perfect… every word. And that it accompanied such a beautiful painting is an accomplishment for both you and the artist. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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How kind you are to take the time to write. It is so appreciated. All best wish for the coming year.
Gwen.
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So lovely! xx
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Thank you for your kind words. Much appreciated.
Gwen.
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Always a pleasure! ⭐
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