Hawthorn and Lavender, with Other Verses

The collection opens with a plaintive meditation on summer’s fleeting breath, quickly shifting to a solemn prologue that praises England’s green fields while recognizing pride and sacrifice. The poet’s voice feels both intimate and expansive, inviting listeners into a world where hawthorn and lavender become symbols of love and loss.

From sunrise chants of hope to sunset reflections steeped in shadow, the verses use vivid color‑laden imagery—crimson moons, rusted brass, trembling lilacs—to map an inner landscape of longing. Death and war loom, yet brief flashes of fragile joy, like a shy blossom breaking winter, offer quiet resilience.

Narrated in a measured, expressive cadence, the poems speak like a private conversation, richly ornate yet clear. Listeners who linger will find a rewarding, contemplative experience that lingers long after the final line.