I am currently in New Zealand and so it seems a good time to include a Kiwi poem
Time by Ursula Bethell
‘Established’ is a good word, much used in garden books,
‘The plant, when established’ . . .
Oh, become established quickly, quickly, garden
For I am fugitive, I am very fugitive – – –
Those that come after me will gather these roses,
And watch, as I do now, the white wistaria
Burst, in the sunshine, from its pale green sheath.
Planned. Planted. Established. Then neglected,
Till at last the loiterer by the gate will wonder
At the old, old cottage, the old wooden cottage,
And say ‘One might build here, the view is glorious;
This must have been a pretty garden once.’
From a Garden in the Antipodes (Sidgwick & Jackson, 1929)
Ursula Bethell (1874 – 1945) was a very keen gardener. She knew the joys of planning, planting, tending and cultivating and this poem reflects her hopes as a gardener, but also the awareness that a garden needs constant work, or it can disappear.
She lived in the South Island of New Zealand and at her home on the Cashmere Hills near Christchurch she established a garden that had lovely views out over the city and towards the Southern Alps. There she began writing poems when in her fifties. She was born in England but is today considered one of the first distinctively New Zealand poets, because she captured the landscape so memorably. After she lost her close female companion, with whom she shared the cottage and garden, she ceased writing poetry.
This poem is named ‘Time’ and looks at the relentless progress of nature. The seasons come and go, plants wither and die, new things must be planted and cared for. She repeats the word ‘fugitive’, stressing the fact that she will not be forever on earth and there to tend her garden, but that, in time, other fugitives might spend time in her cottage, enjoy its view, and make their own garden. Like unruly plants, her lines dash on and don’t end neatly. Gardening is so often about the future and not the present. Trees can take years to reach full maturity and bloom, and yet people plant them knowing that even if they never see that beauty themselves, others will.
It’s a lovely poem, about more than simply a garden. It’s about the passing of time, a love of beauty and how to pass on beauty to future generations, and it is also about the need to pause and reflect on the future and what it might bring.
It was hard to find a really good YouTube version of it. This one is read a little slowly for my taste, but you may enjoy it:
Have you enjoyed this poem? I’d love to know what you think, let me know by leaving a comment.
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Janet Cantor
I left the comment below under the youtube version of the poem, which I rather liked because of his voice:
This is beautiful and makes me sad because as I am aging, I am able to do less and less gardening and the lovely areas of flowers I used to have all around my house in small gardens, now look bleak and empty. Sad.
Susannah Fullerton
Yes, it is sad when one can no longer do the things one loves. At leasy you can still appreciate the beauty of a garden, and enjoy family and books.
It’s wonderful when life is rich and full and we do not want to think about going. Keep enjoying life to the full, Janet!
Heather Graant
I was born in Christchurch, went to school and high school there and though we were taught and read poetry I have never heard of Ursula Bethell which is rather a shame. The poem is indeed very beautiful and you can imagine the garden. Yes – we do plant trees knowing full well we will not see them grow to full maturity but others will and that is a legacy to leave behind in this rather unsettled world..
Susannah Fullerton
Oh, I didn’t know you came from Christchurch. Ursula Bethell also wrote some poems about Akaroa and Banks Peninsula, which is how I first came across her work as my mother grew up in Akaroa. She’s a lovely poet. I hope one day to go and see the house she lived in – I hope her garden still flourishes.
Susan Gresson
I enjoyed your talk in Hamilton last week. I was so impressed I looked up your itinerary & noticed you were on the South Coast in March. My sister lives south of Wollongong & is part of a book group so I let her know of your upcoming visits. She has sent the details to her book club. I call that serendipity 😊
Susannah Fullerton
Thanks, Susan, and I am delighted you enjoyed my talk. Please tell your sister that she can also sign up for my newsletter and share it with her book group, or you can forward it to her.
I hope to be back in Hamilton before long!