Gallant Galanthus

Snowdrops are just appearing in Cocking church yard, many still buds, a brave few like this one venturing to let us see their faces.

So many snowdrop poems to choose from, here's just a taster, two with quite different language, the first from an islander, the second a woman of the world.


There, under a skeleton sycamore
- above the sea - a cluster of snowdrops,
Children of snow and sun
Who must die before the lark sings.

George Mackay Brown
Orkney 1921-1996
George rarely left his native Orkney, and his writings came from his close observations of the ever turning wheel, and of life within and outwith his own islands.


The fnow-drop, Winter's timid child,
Awakes to life bedew'd with tears;
And flings around its fragrance mild,
And where no rival flowrets bloom,
Amidft the bare and chilling gloom,
A beauteous gem appears!

Mary Robinson
1758 - 1800
After her husband went to prison for debt, Mary became an actress and then the first public mistress of King George IV. He finished their affair without paying the promised sum of £20,000, and Mary tried to support herself and her child by her writings.