It’s Mayday 2020.

We’re stuck in a national lockdown and the world is discombobulated beyond our wildest imaginings.

Nature doesn’t care though – the bluebells bloomed as normal, even here in Northumberland, and I am reminded of a poem I wrote back in 2016, in the tranquility of a Cotswold woodland near my parents’ home when the word pandemic was known only in history texts.

Over the years I’ve entered many poetry competitions (to no avail!) and have never published a self-written poem on the blog before.

I figure there’s not much to lose at the moment so, if you’re missing the woods or the bluebells, or your soul or quiet time in nature, this may or may not be for you! Here goes…

Here amongst the bluebells

Here amongst the Bluebells…

…the world seems still. Stopped.

And atop this wild cathedra,

I feel stopped, at pause.

Elated, warm, at ease.

The birds sing out a torrent,

Through this ancient vault of trees,

Sunlight pours contentment,

Cloaked in chorus on the breeze.

Nature spreads her joyful play,

Ahead and all around,

Instilling true and total peace,

Through silence cloaked in sound.

A sort of unity with air,

The world so thus enclosed,

Abundant nothingness, deep-filled,

With quiet life distilled.

They nod consent, (the Bluebells!),

To this idle joy; to love.

They shine in quiet piety,

Truth chiming in each bud.

Each silent ring,

(Or whatever other spell they deem to conjure),

Reveals, re-fuels, ignites the soul,

Restores the faith deep under.

With still-stopped warmth in nature’s pause,

Elation wriggles free.

Delicate, stealthy, forceful,

Joy-filled dancing, buoyant peace.

A craving soul, a lovelorn heart,

Finds solace and release.

Am I enjoying myself? I am.

In joy in myself, within myself….

…..amongst the bells of blue?

– I am!

Lucy Holmes

Wild wishes to you all for a merry Mayday! May your bluebells be many, your soul-song ring wildly and your lockdown fly swiftly. 

Image close up of early purple orchid in bluebells
An orchid amongst the bluebells – Early Purple?

Since publishing this post I was utterly humbled to be asked permission for it to be read at the funeral of one of my readers – someone I don’t know personally. It was an honour to of course say yes and I hope the words brought much comfort.

Bluebell Walk

The NSPCC bluebell walk at Ratcheugh Crag, Northumberland (every May) is well worth a visit – the Crag only opens once a year especially for this event.

Read about our Mum and Daughter day there in bluebell walk, complete with chocolate cake and body boarding at the beach!

Keep an eye on the NSPCC Facebook page for next year’s date.

More outdoor inspiration?

Follow Kids of the Wild on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign up via email so you don’t miss new posts as they are published – we’ll get the kids outdoors again after Corona!

There’s more wild-inspired poems in the Poetry section and if your children enjoy nature poetry, we reviewed this anthology; I Am The Seed That Grew The Tree in the reviews section.

For more outdoor adventure inspiration browse the website (for after lockdown), from coasteering to citizen science, picnics to puffins.

See you on the outside!