Wilfred Gibson – Handwritten and SIGNED Renishaw Poem
£450.00
A near fine hand written and SIGNED poem by Wilfred Gibson, entitled ‘Renishaw’ and dedicated ‘To Edith & Osbert’, written in black ink on grey paper, folded in half with closed tear to second written panel, adhesive residue to verso with ‘poet’ written in blue ink.
In full: ‘Renishaw – To Edith & Osbert: While at the end of the enthralling day In the ancient carven (sic) fourpost bed I lay, I gazed with a bedazzled stare Through the uncurtained casement at the moon, Reflecting on the curious chance that I Should come to lie within that panelled chamber, where, Throughout the past Numerous, to me, unknown Long-deceased personalities had slept, Or lain there wakeful, overcast In a bewildering reverie, Baffled by some impending, unforeseen Ominous eventuality. Yet, though half-consciously Aware of ghostly presences, my thoughts kept Fluttering like butterflies That in the day’s sunlight To my delighted eyes Seemed flowers in flickering flight; As now my mind reverted dreamily To the serene And golden afternoon, When with the living poets I had strayed Beyond the crenelated towers And classic effigies of stone And ranged around The radiant reminiscent vast Ancestral garden, wherein they had played Through childhood’s chequered hours Of spiritual spellbound Transient, or, everlasting ecstasy; And in those vistas they had caught the gleam Of visions that had trained their eyes in dream, Not only of ethereal fantasy, But revelation of the hitherto… significance of life – Visions that, even through The chaos of overcoming years of strife And shattering despair For them should be The inspiration of the rare Illuminating imagery And lustrous rhythmic fluency Of their translucent poems – the garden, they Had held day after day In cherishing intimacy Ensuring that through them inevitably Its rich exuberant efflorescent earth, Basking in sunshine or… with showers Should bring to birth, Not only mortal, but, immortal flowers. Wilfred Gibson.‘
Wilfrid Wilson Gibson (1878–1962) was an English poet associated with the Georgian movement, admired for his clear, narrative style and sympathetic portrayals of ordinary working people. Born in Hexham, Northumberland, he wrote memorable poems about miners, labourers and rural life, bringing everyday experience into early twentieth-century poetry. During the First World War he served in the army and wrote about the emotional realities of war. Although there is no record of his friendship with Edith and Osbert Sitwell, there is every reason to believe that Gibson would have known them and their famously haunted family seat in Derbyshire, Renishaw Hall.
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- Description
Description
A near fine hand written and SIGNED poem by Wilfred Gibson, entitled ‘Renishaw’ and dedicated ‘To Edith & Osbert’, written in black ink on grey paper, folded in half with closed tear to second written panel, adhesive residue to verso with ‘poet’ written in blue ink.
In full: ‘Renishaw – To Edith & Osbert: While at the end of the enthralling day In the ancient carven (sic) fourpost bed I lay, I gazed with a bedazzled stare Through the uncurtained casement at the moon, Reflecting on the curious chance that I Should come to lie within that panelled chamber, where, Throughout the past Numerous, to me, unknown Long-deceased personalities had slept, Or lain there wakeful, overcast In a bewildering reverie, Baffled by some impending, unforeseen Ominous eventuality. Yet, though half-consciously Aware of ghostly presences, my thoughts kept Fluttering like butterflies That in the day’s sunlight To my delighted eyes Seemed flowers in flickering flight; As now my mind reverted dreamily To the serene And golden afternoon, When with the living poets I had strayed Beyond the crenelated towers And classic effigies of stone And ranged around The radiant reminiscent vast Ancestral garden, wherein they had played Through childhood’s chequered hours Of spiritual spellbound Transient, or, everlasting ecstasy; And in those vistas they had caught the gleam Of visions that had trained their eyes in dream, Not only of ethereal fantasy, But revelation of the hitherto… significance of life – Visions that, even through The chaos of overcoming years of strife And shattering despair For them should be The inspiration of the rare Illuminating imagery And lustrous rhythmic fluency Of their translucent poems – the garden, they Had held day after day In cherishing intimacy Ensuring that through them inevitably Its rich exuberant efflorescent earth, Basking in sunshine or… with showers Should bring to birth, Not only mortal, but, immortal flowers. Wilfred Gibson.‘
Wilfrid Wilson Gibson (1878–1962) was an English poet associated with the Georgian movement, admired for his clear, narrative style and sympathetic portrayals of ordinary working people. Born in Hexham, Northumberland, he wrote memorable poems about miners, labourers and rural life, bringing everyday experience into early twentieth-century poetry. During the First World War he served in the army and wrote about the emotional realities of war. Although there is no record of his friendship with Edith and Osbert Sitwell, there is every reason to believe that Gibson would have known them and their famously haunted family seat in Derbyshire, Renishaw Hall.
