Category Archives: Oxford Blues

KATHLEEN

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Universal Octopus

‘Going out there is no other,coming back there is no trace’.Love and care for one another,smooth the sadness from her face. Like Orestes how she travels!Light-foot ever, onward roams;as the skein of life unravels,everywhere she makes her homes. Loves she … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged Eurydice, grass blade to her star, Kathleen, king of Shades, Life, love, Orestes, Orpheus, Oxford Blues, pain, Pluto, sadness, smile, sunshine, travel | Leave a comment

TRUTH IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Universal Octopus

Thousands of magnolia flowers,by Danby’s gateand yellowstone walls,test vernal powersagainst the winds of March; and wait. Slowly, blossoms fall,like heavy snowflakes, one by one,lit by a dull and clouded sun. Tourists have gathered here to seethe wonder of this snow-blossom … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged "inner eye", Botanic Gardens, harvest, march, Oxford Blues, photography, snowflakes, tourists, Truth, vernal power | Leave a comment

MIDWINTER’S DAY IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Posted on December 20, 2021 by Universal Octopus

Hippophaewith clusters of orange berrieson spiky twigs. Set in this ancient, yellowstone wall,which separates the formal walksfrom the marsh garden to the south,is the gateway (with gate long gone).At its base, nerines – all mauves and reds –spill over on … Continue reading →

Posted in Blondin, Oxford Blues | Tagged Blondin, Botanic Gardens, Brian Taylor, Cherwell, Magdalen, magnolia, medicinal garden, Merton, mid-winter, Oxford, Oxford Blues, winter jasmine, yew tree | Leave a comment

ARMISTICE DAY

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Universal Octopus

“Died some pro patria non dulce non et decor.”So Ezra Pound adapted Horace’s linesfor those whose sufferings for their nationhad bred a dull, dark, painful generationwith gloria cauterised from their minds. In the calendar their deaths are still recorded.Poppies and … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged Armistice Day, bombs, deaths, dust, Ezra Pound, Flanders, gloria, grief, human litter, Martyr's Memorial, medals, November, Oxford, Oxford Blues, past and present, poppies, pro patria, services, spirits, St Giles, transcendental | Leave a comment

THE ONE AND THE MANY

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Universal Octopus

If there is only One,nothing can be special.If there is Nothing,what then? .

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged many, nothing, One, Oxford Blues, special | Leave a comment

THESEUS

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Universal Octopus

Labyrinths are mind-madeand vanish when the mind stops.(Do the Minotaurs vanish too?) Life is a Labyrinth.Garden gate – Conception.Front door – Birth.A thousand mazesbranch off to every room.Every room with its viewleads to the Back Door.(Is the Minotaur waiting there … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged birth, Brian Taylor, conception, labyrinths, Life, mazes, minotaurs, Theseus, view | Leave a comment

HALLOWELL

Posted on October 31, 2021 by Universal Octopus

The tide that started flowingall those years agohas eddied roundand doubled back,has shadowed our diverging tracksand monitored their going.It sidles in and splashes at our feetleaving us very little common groundfor if and when we try to meet. Every step … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged absinthe, Brian Taylor, dead blackbird, dead cow, Dorset, Euro Express, Hallowell, light, opium, Painted Veil, sunflowers, tide, Tuscany, Van Gogh | Leave a comment

REMEMBRANCE MONDAY

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Universal Octopus

Remembranceis invalidunlessit goes right back to the beginning. Cats know thisand complete their lives in the present. Humans don’twhich makes their workincompleteand invalid;a building lacking its foundation. .

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged beginning, building, cats, Foundation, Humans, present, Remembrance Monday, work | Leave a comment

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

Posted on November 8, 2020 by Universal Octopus

November RosePink and white and mauve.Solitary, still,among the rosemary and late autumnal gorse. Sea winds have blown.The first frosts have frozen the short grass.Spring and summer are memories,midwinter an echo in reverse. November Rose for the dying.November Poppies for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Oxford Blues | Tagged autumnal gorse, dead, first frosts, Flanders, midwinter, new birth, November Poppies, November Rose, Remembrance Sunday, Rosemary | Leave a comment

MAGDALEN

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Universal Octopus

In the Fellows’ Gardens,past the Deer Park,a willow twists and stretchesout of a brown poollike a giant Nāgatrailing garlands of green lace. Along the avenues of Addison’s Walk,among birch and beech,chestnuts stretch out their brancheslike semaphores,and hang their leaves like … Continue reading →