Dawnings
Wales in May
By Nicholas Hooper
I walked beside a babbling brook
who’s twinkling sound made backdrop to
a willow warbler’s swooping cry
and teacher, yes the great tit’s call
brought tears and memories to my eye.
In woodland I was held in thrall.
Oak trees from bud to green I caught
in time to see their brave new leaves
so fresh against the clouding sky
and swooping round the hedgerows there,
two swallows show that May is here.
And all around the sound of Wales,
the sheep, the water never fails
to fill my heart with deep, deep joy.
My love of Wales as man and boy
I’ve walked the valleys, crossed the streams,
discovered nature, so it seems,
and every month I come to see
this country that so tutored me.
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About Dawnings:
“Every morning at around 5am I get up and go down to my studio. After a short meditation I write down whatever is in my head, giving myself fifteen minutes to do so. Then moving over to the piano (or a more portable instrument like my Ukulele when I'm away), I improvise and record a piece of music inspired by whatever words I just wrote. It is a great way of keeping both my writing and my composing going and I call these small creations Dawnings. They are mostly unedited, like sketches, so that they keep that fresh feeling of an early morning discovery.”
— Nick Hooper