Tuesday, December 10, 2013

'The Cold Earth Slept Below'

             Now snow is everywhere. I think the poem 'The cold earth slept below' by Percy Bysshe Shelley that I have found in Internet goes well with this time of the year here. Shelley (1792-1822) was one of the major English Romantic poets.


The cold earth slept below;
Above the cold sky shone;
And all around,
With a chilling sound,
From caves of ice and fields of snow
The breath of night like death did flow
Beneath the sinking moon.

The wintry hedge was black;
The green grass was not seen;
The birds did rest
On the bare thorn’s breast,
Whose roots, beside the pathway track,
Had bound their folds o’er many a crack
Which the frost had made between.


Last Sunday I could drive to my summer cottage and garden because the snow was not deep. The nearest forest was very beautiful. Although the sun shone a few hours I could take some pictures of wintry woods.


 I have told in my previous post I bought some Christmas decorations and hung them on the spruce in my garden now. At home my living room window is decorated with candles as well. 

 

Was it snowing or is there snow in your place? Do you like walking in the woods before Christmas? Thank you!




37 comments:

  1. Wow! these photos are postcard-perfect. They are truly beautiful and straightaway put me in the festive mood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elsie, I did not think my photos look like postcard, thank you!

      Delete
  2. What a beautiful choice of poem to accompany these beautiful pictures. So breathtaking. I love snow!! We usually don't get a lot here but I'm hoping this year is an exception :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful photos - will the snow stay around for long? No snow here - we do sometimes get some in December some years but if we do get snow it is more likely in January or February.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sue, we have snow usually till March, it's very long winter :((
      Thank you!

      Delete
  4. How beautiful your pictures are and the poem goes very well with them. We haven't had any snow yet. I hope you are keeping warm and enjoying decorating for the holidays!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you liked this poem by Shelley. I liked it too! Thank you!

      Delete
  5. Nice photos on your post today. Snow siting on branches is always so beautiful. Thanks for sharing. JC

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jack, I hope you'll have snow as well. I like the tree branches with snow --- they look thicker. Thank you!

      Delete
  6. Lovely!! Merry Christmas...Larry

    ReplyDelete
  7. So beautiful, such a romantic snowy landscape and I love reading poems, this one is just wonderful and I will copy it for my poem diary. Until now we have not had any snow, there are years we don't get any snow at all, but we have also winters with lots of snow, so it is always a surprise. We shall wait and see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you, Janneke, this poem is wonderful. Glad you want to have copy of it. Yes, we shall wait good Christmas weather, thank you!

      Delete
  8. My garden looks like yours. A little bit of snow on the ground, very few hours of light now, but a wonderful scene of wintry woods. Many people dislike this season but I think it is beautiful. Cold . . . but lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, it's so pity the day is very short, Laurrie :(( I'd like it would be longer! But the season is nice you're right. Thank you!

      Delete
  9. Lovely photos Nadezda, I have heard you have got really cold weather lately, and in America it’s cold too, but here in between, in Britain we had 14 degrees C two days ago and still quite warm weather for the season. It’s colder during the night but I have still not had any frost in my garden and plants that normally would have died down are still alive. It’s great to be out in the garden when it is so mild, long may it last!
    I think your Christmas lights are identical to mine! In Norway we call them advent lights but here in Britain they call it Christmas candle bridge. I love decorating for Christmas, in this darkest time of year I fill my house with light and decoration. Have a good day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's fine Helene you can enjoy your garden even in December! I think your home is decorated wonderfully. Thank you!

      Delete
  10. Hello Nadezda ! Wonderful scenery of the winter and beautiful Christmas decorations
    Greetings

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wonderful photos Nadezda!!Great shots!!!It must be so cold out there!!!I love your christmas decorations on the tree and the candle bridge!!Hope you have a lovely and warm week!!
    Dimi...
    http://decdimisaussi.blogspot.gr/2013/12/a-winter-sunny-day-christmas-joy.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, it isn't so cold Dimi. I mean the temp is about -1...-3C, great weather. I've seen your Christmas tree ---is beautiful!

      Delete
  12. Buenas postales navideñas nos dejas:))
    En Béjar hay nieve en la sierra, de momento en la ciudad no. Si tenemos bastante frio y heladas por la noche.
    Buen miércoles Nadezda.
    Un beso

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura, yo miraba al mapa de Espana para ver donde tu vives y donde hay nieve en ese momento. Nunca pensaba que alli estaria tan frio. Ten cuidado y calientate. Gracias!

      Delete
  13. Beautiful and peaceful forest scenes!

    ReplyDelete
  14. The poem is perfect for winter - and your photos of the snowy woods are beautiful, too. I like that you put ornaments on your tree outdoors. We don't often get snow. As a child, I always wanted it, but as an adult, I'm happy enough without it! It is quite lovely to see in photos, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, snow is nice in photos, you're right Holley! Thank you!

      Delete
  15. Welcome Nadezda!
    I am delighted with your winter photos.
    They are like Renaissance paintings.
    Great.
    I wish a nice Sunday.
    Greetings. ♥ ♥ ♥

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your photographs are truly beautiful and the poem fits the pictures perfectly. Here we may get some snow in January or February and usually it lasts only one or two days. But we have had no snow in two years. It is not very cold right now, round 55 F or 13 C.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think +13 C is not too cold, for me of course, Vagabonde! It's not surprisingly that the snow melts quickly.
      I'm glad you liked the poem and my pictures, thank you!

      Delete
  17. Hi Nadezda, thanks for your comment on my blog. I'm happy to find yours in return! I love your snowy photos. I must admit that I don't like it when it snows here (which doesn't happen very often luckily!). It's summer so I don't have to worry about it for a while! I love looking at your photographs though especially the first one - it's stunning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're in summer now, lucky you Ruth! Thank you for stopping by my blog!

      Delete
    2. Beautiful photos, Nadezda but it looks so cold. I don't think I could live in such a cold country. I guess it is what you get accustomed to. I like Shelley's poetry, but it too makes me feel so cold and a little depressed.
      It's cool here right now, but tomorrow it will start warming up with a top expected of 40C on Thursday. That is extreme as well. I will close all the blinds and shutters early in the morning to keep the house cool. When it is hot inside, around 4.00pm, then I turn on the air conditioning. That soon cools things down, but it is expensive to run!

      Delete
  18. I always feel that your photos are beatiful. Especially the snow shots are breathtaking!!! I was born in Niigata Japan, which has heavy snow in winter. When I was a kid, I hated snow. But since I was grown up, people living in snowy district could truly enjoy the coming of spring, I think. Now, I envy you enjoying such serene sceneries!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After long months with snow we really enjoy spring coming, you are right, Keity. Thank you!

      Delete

Thank you for stopping by Nadezda's Northern Garden blog!
I'm glad to read your friendly comments very much.
Feel free to comment on the posts or photos
I warmly welcome the new followers on my blog.