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EDITORIAL
e: wvm.editor@gmail.com www.wrigglevalleymagazine.co.uk
Chairman: Graham Plaice
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gplaice@gmail.com 01935 872921
Editor: Kathryn Edwards
wvm.editor@gmail.com
Secretary & Diary: Judith Palmer
ja_palmer@btinternet.com
Treasurer: Rob Barfoot
01935 873306 rbarfoot48@gmail.com
Advertising & Villages coordinator: Gordon Ratcliffe
01935 872996 gojan@btinternet.com
Design & Production:
Left Field / Remous Print
Distribution: David Wallace
01935 873077 djwallace@gmail.com
Copy Deadline: 12th of month prior to publication, 5th of month if artwork required Maximum article length: 400 words Photographs: either jpeg (300dpi minimum) via e mail or originals Village news please e mail /deliver to your village rep (see contact details under each village heading) Collection points for handwritten or typed articles: WVM Box Old School Gallery Yetminster (On the Boyle cafe) 1 Cloverhay, Yetminster Printed by Remous Print, Sherborne Front cover photo: Striking scene at Hilfield, taken by Rufus Fox Frosty robin
Photo: Sarah Knowles
Having gladly seen the back of 2020, it’s not the start to 2021 that anyone would have wished for, as another national lockdown holds us in its grip. But, as we are told, there is a glimmer of hope with the continued roll out of the vaccines and Wriggle Valley community members are getting their jabs as promised.
There are strong threads of strength and optimism in this issue of your magazine. The Christmas spirit was undimmed, with many villagers braving freezing temperatures and sudden deluges to celebrate and sing carols outside. There were spectacular Advent window displays and houses and gardens dazzled with light from early December. There was also, as Julie Simpson says, ‘an abundance of generosity,’ with special Christmas box deliveries, food bank collections, and philanthropic donations.
With plans for summer fetes and the restarting of club activities, for planting trees on a grand scale, and the restoration of buildings and signposts, the Wriggle Valley is taking a positive view and gearing up for a much better year to come.
KathrynEdwards Editor
POETRY PAGE SPECIAL Christina Rossetti
We had planned to run Rossetti’s ‘A Pageant’ through 2021, with her paean to the twelve months of the year appearing in the relevant issue of WVM. But then John Bingham of Beer Hackett suggested Rossetti’s ‘New Year’ as being particularly appropriate for this issue. Which presented a dilemma, given we had already set up for ‘A Pageant’. Which to include? We decided on both. ‘New Year’ was published in 1856, when Rossetti was 26. It appears, providentially, to reference the year that haspassed and our hopes for the year to come.
New Year New Year met me somewhat sad: Old Year leaves me tired, Stripped of favourite things I had, Baulked of much desired: yet farther on my road to-day, God willing, farther on my way. New Year coming on apace, What have you to give me? Bring you scathe or bring you grace, Face me with an honest face, You shall not deceive me: Be it good or ill, be it what you will, It needs shall help me on my road, My rugged way to heaven, please God.
Rossetti’s ‘A Pageant and other
poems’ was first published in 1881, by which time she was considered one of the most important women poets of the age. Pageant - ‘a public entertainment or performance of a historical scene’ included a cast of ‘personifications’ (the months) which were to be played by Boys and Girls. There were also detailed stage directions indicating actions, but as our emphasis is on verse, we include only those necessary to follow proceedings.
This month has the text for Januaryand February. Each WVM, from March to the Dec/Jan issue, will feature the verse Rossetti wrote for that month.
Right: The First Edition of ‘A Pageant..’ 1881
Cold the day and cold the drifted snow, Dim the day until the cold dark night. Crackle, sparkle, fagot; embers glow: Some one may be plodding through the snow; Longing for a light, For the light that you and I can show. If no one else should come, Here Robin Redbreast's welcome to a crumb, And never troublesome: Robin, why don't you come and fetch your crumb?
Here's butter for my hunch of bread, And sugar for your crumb; Here's room upon the hearthrug, If you'll only come.
In your scarlet waistcoat, With your keen bright eye Where are you loitering? Wings were made to fly!
Make haste to breakfast, Come and fetch your crumb, For I'm as glad to see you As you are glad to come.
When a knock is heard, January opens the door to February, who appears with a bunch of snowdrops in her hand ....
January: Good-morrow, sister. February: Brother, joy to you! I've brought some snowdrops; only just a few, But quite enough to prove the world awake Cheerful and hopeful in the frosty dew And for the pale sun's sake.
She hands a few of her snowdrops to January, who retires into the background. A soft bleating is heard outside. February opens the door, and sees one foremost lamb, with other sheep and lambs bleating, crowding towards her..
February: O you, you little wonder, come - come in, You wonderful, you woolly soft white lamb: You panting mother ewe, come too, And lead that tottering twin Safe in: Bring all your bleating kith and kin Except the horny ram.
The lambkin tottering in its walk
With just a fleece to wear
The snowdrop drooping on its stalk
So slender - snowdrop and lamb, a pretty pair,
Braving the cold for our delight, Both white, Both tender.
How the doors rattle, and the branches sway! Here's brother March comes whirling on his way With winds that eddy and sing.
She turns the handle of the door, which bursts open, disclosing March, both hands full of violets and anemones
