Sir John Betjeman reads "Norfolk" (1954) - his poem about lost innocence.
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- Sir John Betjeman, poet, 1906 - 1984.
"Of unkept promises, and broken hearts". We all know what Betjeman meant by that.
I love Norfolk. Many years ago, I used to live in a tiny cottage close to Hickling, Calthorpe and their broads (mostly navigable rivers and lakes) alongside my English Springer Spaniel and two Airedales. This short, but sweet film (by RUclipsr The Waterland: see below) brings back the fondest memories.
The Poem
It is a most affecting poem, illustrated by happy reminiscences of his childhood holidays in Norfolk. Here, Betjeman makes it the more touching by his strikingly moving reading. He was ever authentic.
It is a poem which most of us I think completely understand in adulthood. A recurring theme in his poetry, here Betjeman reflects, wistfully, on lost childhood innocence, and the ensuing guilt and other troubling experiences which accumulate in later life. Inevitable? Probably.
Text
How did the Devil come? When first attack?
These Norfolk lanes recall lost innocence,
The years fall off and find me walking back
Dragging a stick along the wooden fence
Down this same path, where, forty years ago,
My father strolled behind me, calm and slow.
I used to fill my hands with sorrel seeds
And shower him with them from the tops of stiles,
I used to butt my head into his tweeds
To make him hurry down those languorous miles
Of ash and alder-shaded lanes, till here
Our moorings and the masthead would appear.
There after supper lit by lantern light
Warm in the cabin I could lie secure
And hear against the polished sides at night
The lap lap lapping of the weedy Bure,
A whispering and watery Norfolk sound
Telling of all the moonlit reeds around.
How did the Devil come? When first attack?
The church is just the same, though now I know
Fowler of Louth restored it. Time, bring back
The rapturous ignorance of long ago,
The peace, before the dreadful daylight starts,
Of unkept promises and broken hearts.
Credits
Music: "Walkaway" from "Meet Joe Black" - Thomas Newman (1998)
With grateful thanks to RUclipsr, TheWaterland who kindly agreed to my crossposting here. It is a wonderful Channel: / @norfolktraveller
It amazes me that Betjeman's academic contemporaries didn't take him seriously as a poet. Then again, he was very popular with the public. The academic snobs wrote him off as amusing but not a serious poet. But he connected with the people. Surely the purpose of a poet is to connect with the people, not to impress professors of literature.
I’m waiting for my new tyres to be fitted on my car, the 21st century loud in my mind, obscured joy and innocence, a long ago, now lost voice barely remembered, and then a minor miracle, the cracked black leather of my chair creaks, the cold grey sky looms beyond the dirty glass panes, the awful radio droning to the sounds of metal, air, and loud young men: and yet for 1:53 seconds I’m transported to that remoter past, that magical time, and in my heart, induced by another’s words, a momentary peace descends upon my tired spirit and for a brief moment I felt whole again.
Beautiful….thank you. You are not alone. 🙏
This poem affected me years ago even when single or in relationships doomed to not last. Now, at 40, I have a wonderful faithful woman and an incredible 4 year old boy. Listening to this I imagine him, an old man after I am gone, and I hope he can look back fondly on the innocence of his youth and remember his dear Dad with warmth and love.
Dear antPDC - a beautiful little gem of nostalgia, you’ve done it again.
If JB hadn’t been sent down from Oxford he’d never have emerged from inevitable academic obscurity and we would today be the poorer for it.
rightmarker1 I’m with you entirely RM. Best.
I know JB disliked it greatly in later life, but the popular idea of him as a loyal, affectionate (yet candid) teddy bear is simply true. I'll hug this teddy bear till I die.
England's best ever poet
How lovely that you have added John Betjeman to your repertoire for our delight. He was a poet who could evoke place, mood, memory so vividly and poignantly. I read his collection "Summoned by Bells" frequently and each time I am transported. Many thanks again for your excellent compendium of music and verse.
Thank you very much Charles. JB has long been a part of my life, and I think I shall make it a project to bring his poetry here more often. You have him right: mood, place, memory, vividness in his word-painting. His trenchant advocacy of good architecture, the preservation of historic buildings, and his commentaries on steam trains, branch lines, and Beeching-esque vandalism resonate today with perhaps even greater force. I loved the man.
Thank you for this. It’s so moving!
It can apply to any remembrance of a beloved youthful home.
"Time, bring back
The rapturous ignorance of long ago,
The peace, before the dreadful daylight starts,
Of unkept promises and broken hearts."
And the backing music is wonderful.
The beautiful scenes he can create with just words - making me long for yesterday of old.....
Loving the poetry of this man - now become one of my top poets & certainly a inspiration......
Thank you TEB. You almost certainly know a poem that always meant a great deal to me: ruclips.net/video/vlKgIXHETmU/видео.html
A 'Beautiful' poem!
Betjeman often used words like 'held' and 'secure'
to describe his state in the happy memory of his childhood.
And we can all relate to his sentiments can't we Mike.
@@AntPDC
Well I certainly can.
I often get sentimental about the past.
@@sherlockholmeslives.1605 As do I.
This is Beautiful
Beautiful
Love Norfolk, love Betjeman... Perfect match!
He loved Norfolk very much. His "Passion for Churches" is the most wonderful paean to a county I love too.
beautiful
It is, isn't it daphne. It's almost a prayer.
Just discovered this. Thanks so much for bringing JB's beautiful poem and voice to us. I've long admired the man, though he did once try to steal my girlfriend!
(In gleeful mischief)
Thank you.
Bootiful
;)
"Meet Joe Black" is one of my favourite films. Beside the poet of Betjeman with "Walkaway" and his voice, I made myself a cup of tea. I become old then I became.
How did the Devil come? When first attack? I don't know.
I've always loved Betjeman's poetry, though I was until now unfamiliar with this one. One learns new stuff every day - only a few weeks ago I discovered that Joan Hunger-Dunn was a real person. Thanks for posting; music, poetry and film all go beautifully together. Do you know what the music is?
"Walkaway" from "Meet Joe Black" - Thomas Newman (1998). Thank you for reminding me to update my Description Iain.
I wouldn't have thought it was from a film score. It sounded like English classical music. Must see if I can find the score online.
Yes, I had no idea what it was until I received a Copyright Notice (of the monetised variety, so no problem). Those Notices have their uses...