Best Lakeland Poems
I awakened to giant egrets
dancing while brilliant hawks
bluster over head while
thousands of white herons
nest by night flying out
every morning arriving
within the Caribbean
by noon only to return
just in time for dinner
cardinals perch low singing
lovely hymns to the baby eagles
just out of reach the blue jays
gather among the wood peckers
as the humming birds flutter
feasting on sweet nectar
the tall cypress trees sway
embracing the glorious sky
igniting one hundred butterflies
while the sun peeks in between
the wandering clouds above the lakes
Written by Mrs Yolanda Joy Nicholsen
4-5-2022
3:24 am
There we were all ready to climb Catbells
this climb we'd done some years ago
so thought we needed no map or direction
the weather was lovely the sky so aglow
A crowd was there seemingly on same way
followed along not needing to ask
came to route block off but walked on
never asked had to go back this quite a task
Found the correct signpost and took the route
upwards it was now all along the way
beautiful scenery evident to all around
divinity created all this in a single day
We all need to read God's holy book
so to find the only way to home
never to think we don't need direction
for God's word is our sure word alone
Speak to God open your tongue
make your plea to His majesty on high
ask for His sovereign plan for you
for He knows your days before you die
These are spiritual lessons for our good
revealed through life's every day events
God speaks through our every moments
for in them He always daily frequents
(Was on holiday a few months ago in Lake District and made effort to climb Cat Bells, one of our fav Fell(hill) climbs having done it many years ago, after coming down thought on some spiritual lessons learnt from the events of that day.)
In towns where Basic fantasy makes a frown
Nature has turned Completely upside down.
And day tours emigrate to the Cambrian shore
Onboard, the rivers boats from Windermere
moving between hills and trees, miles from home
where the boughs of orchard greens are overgrown.
From distance views are the dreams first caught,
But by wagon roads are the scenic marvels wrought.
Steep is the pass across from Eskdale to Hardknott.
The architect must create when the odds are Great.
And stand resolute by luck, for success, failure, or fate
Keep the faith Lyvennet flows alone to catch the bait.
In Crake valley the vision of dreams is made known
On Penrith curb they drove all the way back home.
from the distillation realm, everything looks foreign,
Solemn and determined, invoke quiet a snarling spell
Being the adventurer rage driving furiously out of hell,
With Lakeland Muse, ambush by cars on top of a hill.
Framed flaws lay beneath the religious camouflage
Shadows meandering when winding lanes diverge,
An envious world moonlight enriched into a mirage.
Out from the woods, alpacas and feral cats emerge.
Pale and pickled at the grunting grumbling core.
In lush Whitehaven vale oblivious of a full-scale war
Continued tours like silhouette building dunes
In embroidery gardens, beautiful flowers bloom.
Bumblebees, wasps, and flies have wooed and won,
The old man ‘Lakeland’, seated on its penitent throne
Crocked steam from Ulverston rises on the pond.
Another day meets the Crinkle Craggs of Lakeland.
Walking along this nature path
such beautiful colours before your eye
revealing the greatness of God's creation
such splendour and majesty sky high
This reminds me so much of the lakes
there surrounding Keswick so very fair
walking along Derwent Water's edge
glories abound but no Derwent bear!
Colouring of the trees so very majestic
stops one in your tracks, you must admire
leaves you spellbound almost still
imagine now sound of a male voice choir!
These memories so forthcoming
for this year covid 19 did block
any opportunity to visit my delight
beauty personified as feet can't walk!
Being so thankful for past memories
so many to look upon and gaze
many a tale one could speak upon
but I don't want to start a craze!
(Thinking of being in the English lakes at least once a year, that's been the case for past 30 years but covid 19 stopped that this year so holding on to my memories as that's all I have of these lovely lakes.)
EVERY MORNING I AWAKEN TO THE MAJESTIC BEAUTY THE BRILLANT PRESENCE OF THE BLACK SWAN BATHING IN THE RISING SUN SHE SWIM SO GRACEFULLY WHILE APPROACHING THE SIDES OF THE LAKE WHILE MY HUSBAND AND I PLACE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOR THE FLORIDA'S FALLEN HAND IN HAND CROSSES AND AMERICAN FLAGS LINE THE GRASSY KNOLLS WHILE FIRST RESPONDERS SHINE THE FIRE ENGINES FOR THE BIG DAY THE WARRIORS WALK A PEACEFUL MORNING HUE PEEKS IN BOUNCING ON LILLY PADS COVERING THE TADPOLES AND YOUNG ALIGATORS AS SHE SEPERATES HERSELF FROM ALL THEE OTHER SWANS SPLASHING WATER ABOUT AMAZING LOOKING FROM HERE I AWAIT HER TO PASS THROUGH THIS GLORIOUS PROCESSION THE BLACK MADONNA HANGING IN THE CATHEDRAL IN POLAND COMES TO MIND HOW BEAUTIFUL WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE THE EYES OF JESUS HERE SHE COMES AGAIN WOW BLACK BEAUTY IN ALL HER GLORY ITS QUITE RARE TO FIND BLACK SWANS AMONG THE REST AND THERES ALWAYS ONLY ONE BLACK SWAN HER DANCE IS SIMPLY FABULOUS THE OTHER SWANS ARE JUST AS PRETTY SOMETHING ABOUT THE BLACK SWAN THAT GRACES THE CITY OF LAKELAND WITH HER GLORIOUS PRESENCE THE SWIMMING MADONNA DIVES DURING THE WARRIOR WALK IN LAKELAND SHE DRIES HER WINGS ALONE AS SHE DANCES ALONE WATCHING HER OWN IMAGE ON THE CRYSTAL WATERS OF LAKE MORTON THIS IS ABSOLUTELY QUITE FASCINATING GRACIOUS MEMOIRS ESPECIALLY THE SIX NEWEST ADDITIONS OF SWANS DONATED TO THE WONDERFUL CITY OF LAKELAND BY QUEEN ELIZABETH FROM A CHICAGO BREEDER WHY I WALK WITH SHEER ADMIRATION AROUND THE LAKES OF THE CITY OF LAKELAND
WRITTEN JULY 30TH 2025 BY
MRS YOLANDA JOY NICHOLSEN
LAKELAND POET