Mud Maid In Winter

A living sculpture in woodland in the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall

mud maid sleeps soundly
lays low in permanent unmoving
her left shoulder and rounded rump
form hills of femininity
exposed to nature’s elements
she slumbers

attired in cold keeping
resting on her side
her sculpted body and head
embrace snow crystals
flakes softly falling
leave light kisses

on ivy’s clinging coat
settling on womanly curves
her eyes will never open
she will never see the seasons
the day finds her clad
in winter coldness

a blanket of thin whiteness
surrounds her
as do naked trees on guard
her army protects her
year on year rain or shine
grounded she remains
in her woodland domain

Reviews

[MrBlack202]

Love your poem, strong metaphors in each paragraph

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much MrBlack202. I appreciate you stopping by. All the best.

Chris

[Michael Sun Bear]

Hello Chris, my first read through I had skipped over your note. My initial feeling was you were writing of a deceased love one, not really incompletely interred but still visualized. Yes a morbid but yet loving interpretation. Then I read your note, and realized yet again you have taken me to a beautiful location I will never visit. But your summoning of visuals is so strong, I feel now I have been there. So with a final reading, I decided why could not both interpretations be true? So well written Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Your thoughts Michael are always very much appreciated. Thank you so much my friend. All good wishes.

Chris

[Ken Simm.]

This is so visually complete. I could see it and wondered. A remarkable poem that is essentially striking and full of nature.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ken for your very kind words. Hope all is good in your world.

Chris

[Neville]

This is so cool in a beautiful way our Chris ..I remember when she was first allowed, or should that read encouraged to recline there .. I visited shortly afterwards .. and found her so captivating that I have visited a couple of times since and she, even today in repose is essentially timeless .. She hasn't really aged at all .. You have done her much credit here with these words .. Neville 💜

[Chris Shaw]

Well worth the visit Neville and she changes with the seasons. Thank you for your encouraging words. Pleased you think I captured her beauty and intrigue. I spent some time penning this a while back. I wanted to get it right.

Chris 💜

[Tepo]

I had to look this up
Absolutely stunning
Although I already knew that through your words
They painted the picture
Great read on an interesting subject
I'm gonna see that now I know of it
Many thanks Chris
Learned something today

[Chris Shaw]

So pleased Tepo to have encouraged you to find out more. Well worth a visit to our west country. Thank you so much.

Chris

[Soren]

A most lovely poem of nature whether the hillside or the human it speaks with metaphor to me of more than the woods but of human isolation and waiting of stoic unexpectant slumber in time. Loved it

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Soren for another lovely review. Your thoughts are much valued.

Chris

[Buddhistboy73]

Never been to those gardens Chris, but I enjoyed reading your poem ....:)

You take the reader on a journey here.....mixing nature with the feminine form....

I liked the final stanza:

a blanket of thin whiteness
surrounds her
as do naked trees on guard
her army protects her
year on year rain or shine
grounded she remains
in her woodland domain

Depicting the everlasting strength of women to withstand whatever is thrown at them by life...

BB73

[Chris Shaw]

Hello BB73. I love your interpretation of this poem. The gardens are beautiful by the way, this living sculpture well worth seeing. All the best to you and thank you for your visit.

Chris

[Thomas W Case]

There’s a haunting, almost sacred stillness here—earth and body intertwined.
You make the mud maid feel alive even in her eternal sleep, and that’s a rare kind of magic.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Thomas for your thoughtful review. Pleased you enjoyed my poem.

Chris

[Eilis]

When I first started reading, I thought this was maybe about a bog person. That is a fascinating topic that Seamus Heaney wrote a series of poems about. But I was pleased to discover it was a different subject and something new to me. I love the mystery and life you give to the mud maid here. She’s of the earth but of us as well. We see and experience her existence through the lens of our understanding and that in itself is fascinating.

Your poem evokes that sense of mystery that accompanies new discovery—especially whimsical discoveries like this one. But I also sense that you are familiar with her but always surprised. If that makes sense.

It’s a lovely portrait of a secret in the woods. That’s how it’s made me feel. Like I’ve walked up on some secret magic and beauty tucked under the trees. I really enjoyed this, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

So pleased you enjoyed this poem Eilis. I was fascinated by her. A living sculpture that changes with the seasons. I saw some lovely photographs of her, but found her winter look most captivating, especially when it was snowing. Thank you so much for the read and your encouraging review. All good wishes,

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I wonder if this is where they got the idea for Te Fiti in the children's movie, Moana. The sculpture of the "Mud Maid" predates the movie by 18 years so that makes me curious. At any rate, it's very cool. I enjoyed your tribute.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fabian. I don’t know about the movie Moana. You raised an interesting point. I am pleased however that you enjoyed my tribute to the Mud Maid. All the best.

Chris