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Well the book I am about to reread is 'The Plot - A Biography of an English Acre' by Madeline Bunting, basically because it is about my part of the world, North Yorkshire, and it tackles a lot of history. She has also written I see, 'Love of Country - A Hebridean Journey' which looks good as I have become fascinated by all those islands.
Latest book through the post, was Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris's 'Lost Words. Very sumptuous it picks out the words that the Oxford Children's Dictionary left out in lieu of the wretched technical terms we use today. It is for children? no it is for everyone. Anyone who follows Macfarlane on Twitter will know of his hunting out original words.... so a Macfarlane poem, to be spoken aloud ;) Wren

When wren whirrs from stone to furze the world around
her slows, for wren is quick, so quick she blurs the air
through which she flows, yes -

Rapid wren is needle, rapid wren is pin - and wren's song
is sharp-song, briar-song, thorn-song, and wren's flight
is dart-flight, flick fight, light-flight, yes -

Each wren etches. stitches, switches, glitches, yes -

Now you think you see wren, now you know you don't.

Reading online about stones I find there are many good blogs around to take you on the journey.

T tjj

moss wrote:
.... Anyone who follows Macfarlane on Twitter will know of his hunting out original words.... so a Macfarlane poem, to be spoken aloud ;) Wren

When wren whirrs from stone to furze the world around
her slows, for wren is quick, so quick she blurs the air
through which she flows, yes -
Rapid wren is needle, rapid wren is pin - and wren's song
is sharp-song, briar-song, thorn-song, and wren's flight
is dart-flight, flick fight, light-flight, yes -
Each wren etches. stitches, switches, glitches, yes -
Now you think you see wren, now you know you don't.

Thanks for your lovely post Moss and in particular the Wren poem by Robert Macfarlane as the wren is one of my favourite birds. I don't use Twitter that much but do have an account and yes, do follow Robert Macfarlane (probably the reason for going there). One of his recent 'words of the day' was:
"petroglyph" - image created in rock by carving, cutting or abrading the rock's surface (Gk: petro; stone: glyph; cut mark)

- which seems totally appropriate for this forum.

I had a quick flick through 'The Lost Words' in the bookshop yesterday, looks nice, hopefully pick it up soon.

I've not read anything by Madeleine Bunting. I will keep a look out for the Hebridean book. Thanks.

'The Small Isles' by John Hunter is nice. Large book with some lovely photos of Eigg, Rum etc. Lots of history about the islands as well. Worth getting if anyone is planning a trip there.