For the dverse prompt. I might spend some more time on this one.
Photo©DunneJ
Blue are the hills that are far away
Far is the blue in the evening sky,
and loud are the hills with your calling voice,
the sky and the wide open spaces below
are bird-strung and sounding with distant blue.
I remember the sky and the waves of the sea,
pounding the cliffs and the salt white spray,
and the fields with their stone walls, a mesh of hopes,
your voices I hear in the blue of my heart.
Close is the blood that throbs in the ears
and holds in its arms a lover, a child,
the last fire burning, the spire of pearl smoke,
and blue are the hills that are far away.
Jane Dougherty Writes 
Is that Ireland?
Yes, the Wicklow Mountains. Unusual to see them in the sun 🙂
This poem is gorgeous–
“the wide open spaces below
are bird-strung and sounding with distant blue.”
Is this where your family is from originally? It’s beautiful!
Thank you! I think I’ll go back to this one and work at it a bit longer.
Not far off. The other side in Meath, but I have family on the edge of the Wickow Mountains.
I don’t know the areas at all, but it is beautiful–at least in this photo.
It’s wild. I’ve never seen the mountains in such bright sunlight. If you remember the Boorman film Excalibur, it was filmed there. Looks like the tundra in the winter.
Oh, I do remember the cinematography was beautiful in that film.
I loved that film. I think that was the reason.
Also–I didn’t know this proverb, so thank you! 😀
I didn’t know it in so many words. It’s north country, Scottish. Where the hills are blue 🙂
Ahh! There are blue mountains here, too. 😀
There are everywhere. You just need a lack of human habitation and a lot of homesickness 🙂
True.
That closing stanza took my breath away!! Strong and poignant write, Jane ❤️❤️
Thank you!
Affecting, lovely.
Thank you! I’m pleased you think so.
Oh, the whole thing is vista-licious, JD; I esp like the (very Yeats-ian) rhythm throughout, but esp the opening line of each stanza! Beautifully rendered. Thanks.
Thank you, Ron! I’m pleased you like it, and the name Yeats anywhere near something I’ve written gives me a warm fuzzy feeling 🙂
So beautiful and vivid, Jane. I never heard of the proverb either, but I love how it says so much but still is poetic. It just flows perfectly in this poem, and if I read it without context, I would just assume it was part of the piece. 😀 Such beautiful and stunning work, as always.
Thanks Lucy. I chose this proverb because it sounds so much like a line of poetry.
This is an exquisite poem. The phrase “blue are the hills that are far away” captivates me, and seems to want to take me there!
Thanks Beverly. I chose this one because it sounds like a line of poetry.
A great poverb and poem!
Thanks Dwight 🙂
What a beautiful song! It blends with that painting so well, also. And I’m a big fan of Excalibur!
Thank you! The painting is a photo, though you’re right, it looks almost unnatural.
The darkness in the photography of Excalibur is palpable.
The colour blue… ever beguiling and always so far away…
The colour that recedes.
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Beautiful. I was surprised, because pictures from Ireland are mostly without sun. 😉 xx Michael
That’s why this one is so striking 🙂 It looks photoshopped 🙂
The longing for home. It’s universal. (K)
Yes. Those far remembered hills are always blue.
A beautiful poem, I sank into it, didn’t want to leave.
Thank you, Helen 🙂 It’s a lovely saying, so poetic all by itself.
Absolutely gorgeous Jane.
An achingly beautiful poem, Jane! And the photo is breathtaking 🙂
Thank you! I’ve never see the Wicklow Mountains in such splendid sunshine, but it is magnificent 🙂
I enjoyed the rhythm and hand in hand imagery of each line, Jane. Especially:
Close is the blood that throbs in the ears
and holds in its arms a lover, a child,
the last fire burning, the spire of pearl smoke,
and blue are the hills that are far away. ❤
Thank you! I’m pleased it struck a chord 🙂
beautiful..
Thank you 🙂