I have set myself the task of writing a poem about an escarpment that curls across the moors west of Sheffield. It is a feature that I know very well because I have often walked upon it and taken photographs there. It is called Stanage Edge and in Victorian times it was little visited because it passed through "private" shooting land. Ordinary people did not get to go there.
In the clip above you can see Keira Knightley in "Pride and Prejudice (2005). She played Elizabeth Bennett and there she is standing precariously on the very edge of Stanage Edge in a state of wistful reverie before visiting Mr Darcy at Pemberley.
As I say, I have taken many pictures of, from and around Stanage Edge as the these old blogposts demonstrate - here, here and here. And here are just four of my Stanage Edge images:-
So yes, I have it in mind to write a poem inspired by Stanage Edge and I am deliberately taking my time about it. Elsewhere, I have written down words and names that I associate with the escarpment and I am letting thoughts and ideas simply stew in my mind.
The poem's direction could be serious or meditative - perhaps peppered with history or it could be light and quite descriptive, celebrating an edge that serves as a getaway playground for walkers, runners, rock climbers and hang glider enthusiasts.
The incubation period will be as long as it takes because I want to be personally satisfied with the end result before I publish it here in the blogosphere. All I know for sure so far is that the title will be "Stanage Edge".
I always associate your pictures of Stanage Edge (which is indeed a very poetic name) with those abandoned millstones. I like the image with the snow.
ReplyDeleteYikes! Looks pretty precarious!
ReplyDeleteThe edge looks pretty bloody scary to me so I hope you haven't wandered out to the rim. I was a tad adventurous in my younger days but no climbing involving ropes and a partner. The photo showing the millstones is truly artistic. Looking forward to your poem.
ReplyDelete