Timber

Came across this poem while walking around Blaze Farm in the Peak District. There doesn't seem to be any trace of it elsewhere on the internet, so we thought we'd put it up here.

There's something particularly satisfying about mnemonic poems that teach you something. Groucho Marx once said his favourite poem was the one that starts '30 days hath September' because it's the only one that helps you remember something useful.

This one has a quite a melancholy tone, written in the past tense, for a world that has lost touch with knowledge that would once have been common across generations.

The full text:

 

TIMBER

With OAK the old-time ships were laid,
The round-backed chairs of ASH were made,
Of BIRCH were brooms to sweep the floor,
The furniture was SYCAMORE.
Clogs were of ALDER, bows of YEW,
And fishing-rods of bright BAMBOO.
WILLOW was used for cricket bats,
And OAK again for tubs and vats.
Of PINE the roof-beams and the floor
Or for the window frames and door.
ELM made a waggon or a cart
And MAPLE was for carver's art.
BEECH was for bowls, pipes were of BRIAR,
And many woods would make a fire,
But in the cottage or the hall
   ASH made the brightest fire of all.

Comments

[Johnny]

What a lovely piece.
You're right about the melancholy tone. In an increasingly flatpack culture, the verse also suggests a regrettable loss of craft and care.
Cheap they may be, but laminate and MDF make for a sadder world in my opinion.

[Nick Asbury]

Hi Johnny - thanks for this. I suspect laminate and MDF haven't inspired many poems, although I may be wrong.

"With laminate the kitchen worktop was made..."