It’s Yorkshire Day and what better way to celebrate than with the official launch of our wonderful anthology, The Cotton Grass Appreciation Society.
Featuring forty seven poems by a selection of our favourite contemporary poets; you’ll find poems inspired by the South Pennine landscape, the people, the places and those moments that only poetry can capture. This is a collection that will enthrall readers for many years. Don’t miss out on your limited edition first edition copy – order now from our on-line shop.
What’s more every copy sold helps raise fund for Marsden Walkers are Welcome.
Making a winter coat
I am bringing these things to you,
memories from the stone house
where we walked out from doors to moorland.
I, a child of violet heather who gazed over
the backs of sheep, who saw big skies in small shoes,
where light expands forever in skulls.
All the potions and herbs were gathered
into a pouch, a daily duty like baking bread.
I, a child am bringing these things to you.
When time came to knit the fur from heather buds
and sheep tufts, to card and comb them
by hand and fingers, it was always in the light,
the spotlight on bog pools full of rain.
Here was the act of making the coat,
the girl to woman, the waking nights of visions,
the seeing of dark sky, Orion’s belt, the Bear,
stars to pluck, to pull down knowledge,
to weave them as jewels into fur and skin.
I, a child, weave yellow gorse flowers,
cotton tops, black juniper berries,
to proof the coat, to grow me,
to humanise me into new skin.
Here then, I bring my coat to you.
Penny Sharman