“The Cottage” , with the freedom and the space! , A poem By : JW Harvey
The Cottage door by the lake
Irish Landscape Photography : Nigel Borrington
Over the years I have lived in Ireland, there are many places I have visited and stayed, many cottages in remote parts of the country.The one thing most have in common is that they are so remote that for most of the weeks stay it hard to get a mobile phone signal, even for just a simple call or text.
I recently found this great poem by JW Harvey, that I think reflects on the feelings that these problems create, that moment when you realize the world will not end if you cannot get Facebook or even text a friend. What follows for most is putting on your coat and get outside into the real world and your holiday begins.
This is the moment when you realize, its this disconnect you really came for !!!!
The Cottage
JW Harvey,
Sep 25, 2013
I sat by the lake
sipping coffee and feeding the ducks.
In between breadcrumbs,
I dialed his number.
“Your call could not go through.”
I grinned;
Could not, not would not.
Long since the city summers,
.
I finally found our stillwater space:
a sense of security that felt
as serene as my remote arcadia,
disturbed only by the footstrokes
of a hungry mallard passing by.
No breadcrumbs for him.
“Call failed.”
Call failed, not I failed,
and I picked apart the stale bagel
to dip in my coffee
and feed to the ducks.
Nigel Borrington 
I would love to spend a week in that cottage. It looks lovely. Excellent choice of poem Nigel 🙂
November 19, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Hello Norma 🙂 🙂
Thank you 🙂
This little cottage was just great , you would love these little places , real fire and old metal cookers, A real escape for a week 🙂 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 10:24 am
Like both the poem and the photographs- especially the third one. Very nice.
November 19, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Hello Trifocal 🙂
Thank you , very pleased you like this post and thank you for letting me Know 🙂 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 10:25 am
I love the look of these old cottages, reminders of bygone times, and peace and tranquility.
November 19, 2014 at 5:36 pm
Hello Joan 🙂
Yes very much so, I love some time in places like this, so far away from hotel life but they give you such great escape time and yes , they make you feel like you have stepped back for a week 🙂 🙂 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 10:29 am
I’m pretty lacking in cottage construction expertise, but would that be a sod roof on that cottage?
November 19, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Hello Alli 🙂 🙂
Its a Thatched roof Alli, at one time this was how most houses in this part of Europe would have been covers !!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thatching
It is great to still see these , with some protected houses you have to have one, if you need to recover the house and they cost a far bit – last about 15 years, but just look so good !!!
November 20, 2014 at 10:36 am
Poetry has a way of going deep into our subconscience and bringing out the longing and hope that comes with living a life tthat is meaningful. Wonderful photography – added grace and elegance. 🙂 I really enjoy your posts.
November 19, 2014 at 8:13 pm
Hello Rebbecca 🙂
Thank you for you visit , great to hear from you 🙂
I very much enjoy the process of mixing images with poems so Thank you !!!
Very pleased you enjoyed this post ! 🙂 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 10:38 am
What a dear little cottage Nigel .. it looks so welcoming with the red door …
Time away from keyboard and screen ringtones is to be welcomed , we’ve all felt tied I’m sure with the pressure to be in touch/contact /must answer but what a relief it can feel to turn one’s back on it all for however short a spell 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 7:49 am
Hello Poppy 🙂 🙂
Yes its was a great pleasure to stay here, its up in county Galway and I would love to go back at some point. 🙂
Yes , sometime it could be that because technology has grown so fast, we don’t share these new feeling enough. Its like we are embarrassed to say and don’t even expect that moment when you realize your out of contact for a while !!!
Its great though just a few time in the year to realize , you managed to live and the world did not end !!!
and
Feeding the Ducks is fun after all 🙂 🙂 🙂
November 20, 2014 at 10:46 am
🙂
November 20, 2014 at 6:24 pm
Thanks for posting my work! I love pairing writing and photography, especially with this poem as it was originally one of my “Poems in a Moment” on Instagram (http://instagram.com/p/cScPRCTgbl/).
I’d love to collaborate sometime on a dual-medium project if you’re up for it!
J.W. Harvey
Poetry: http://www.hellopoetry.com/jw-harvey/)
Social Media / contact: @xjwharvey
November 21, 2014 at 6:20 am
Thank you, I loved your poem. JW, the moment I found it 🙂 , thank you for sharing it . Yes I would love to match more works 🙂 🙂
November 21, 2014 at 8:58 am