The Lost Words: Rob Macfarlane’s enchanting spell book

In this episode we put the ‘spell’ back into ‘A Spell in the Library’! Robert Macfarlane's wonderful book 'The Lost Words' is available on amazon and better still from all good bookshops.
If you'd like to encourage me in enabling these visits you could pop round on occasion and buy me a cup of coffee which you can do here: www.buymeacoff...
Now here's the poem I read:
A Lament for Lost Words
To graceful names and lovely woods farewell
To acorn, adder, ash, to beech and bluebell,
Farewell old friends I name you in my sonnet
Buttercup, catkin, conker, cowslip, cygnet
Farewell, your fields are brick, our books are barren
No dandelion or fern, hazel or heron
We’ll go no more alone, no more together
The mountain thyme is gone and gone the heather
The clinging ivy‘s gone and soon to go
The kingfisher‘s blue bolt, the mistletoe
Nectar, newt, and otter, pasture, willow
To their last rites my muse comes footing slow
We’ll hear no more the heaven-scaling lark
We’ll all go down together in the dark.

[@Saladzingers]

I owe you a debt of gratitude; this book seemed familiar to me and I have just discovered that a friend had given it to us during the exhausted, dizzying days of young parenthood. Our daughter was too young and the beauty of the book never really sank in - I had barely looked at it. I can now go back and enjoy it as deserves.

[@markt7616]

My girlfriend is a teacher and will now be getting this book for the classroom. A lovely discovery.

[@merrimanu321]

Me too! I just bought it for my girlfriend, also a teacher! What better time to re-enchant students to nature (and poetry!) after so much online school. Cannot thank Malcolm enough!

[@Werner-z5l]

I've started writing my own story recently and I find myself suddenly getting so much pleasure from discovering new words (or rather I should say old words), and then figuring out what they mean and how I might use them in my story. I wish sometimes I had a nice dictionary for finding these old archaic words

[@DanielKellyFolkMusic]

“I wonder what they do teach them at these schools?” I will have to keep an eye out for that book! Fabulous to hear that we will be able to continue these visits.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks - I loved your song about Mary Magdalene, just beautiful!

[@DanielKellyFolkMusic]

@@MalcolmGuitespell I’m not sure if you believe in the ability of pictures to speak to us, but one of the paintings in this remarkable series of icons by Sue Ellen felt like it was asking me to tell its story. It was paired with the original comment that I read. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKicoamceqaDq5o

[@mr.m8870]

You sir, you make our days better, thank you a lot.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

My pleasure

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Malcolm, I often wonder at and worry that we are continually moving away from the natural world and depriving youth of it's joy and beauty. Children certainly know how to download and upload, but they don't know an ash from an oak, or a bluebell from and snowdrop. Some will find their way there and love it forevermore. Thank you for sharing R.M.'s wonderful book with us.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks, I think that book has already done an immense amount of good!

[@sandraevans7881]

Simply wonder-full. Thank you so much for lifting another lockdown day out of the gloom.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@aljurje]

I cannot thank you enough, Sir, for continuing to en-chant and en-rich us.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

You are very welcome

[@argentinagalos6205]

Excellent, enchanting , enjoyable ! Unique ,a special way into poetry ! Thank you !

[@lfcrafts]

Wow. This episode brings tears to my eyes. What tragic loss... and what a beautiful way to bring it all back!

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks!

[@thecommontoad59]

This is wonderful! My wife told me about this Spell this morning; it's a book she had on her mental list for some time. She's a children's librarian; we just watched and she plans on ordering a copy for the library.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

excellent!

[@carlarthur4442]

Beautiful book , love the poetry ❤️ and the clever art work sublime 👌.

[@merrimanu321]

Delightful in every way

[@FunkmeyersShow]

Thank you for your soulful spirited and very inspiring reading! Uplifting! You are beautiful! 🙏💓

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Wow, thank you

[@sandraevans7881]

My copy of The Lost Words has just arrived. Can't thank you enough for introducing it. Exquisitely beautiful and deeply wise. A real treasure. Can't wait to share it snuggled up with grandchildren when lockdown eases.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks, your grandchildren will love it!

[@MomUnderGrace]

This has been a book I've been wanting to get, both for myself and also my little boy who loves words ( really is in a stage of learning words) and books. Listening to you tell of it especially in context of talking with a wondering child makes me wish I could get it today 😄

[@emilyshahryari7250]

Thank you for the peek at this gorgeous book! I've been waiting to buy it until I move back to America (in a month or so 🤞), so it's wonderful to see more details and spells.

[@alibongo5545]

✨💚

[@angiemoyler2226]

what a beautiful start to my day! Thank you. I found you on The Work of the People - what a find - on both counts!! Especially as you love whiskey and words and asking the difficult questions. My family would love to banter with you over a pipe and a whiskey. I have added you to my 'If You Could Invite Anyone for Dinner Who Would It Be ' list :) hmmmm ... but who would I sit you next to?

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Welcome aboard!

[@RedcoatsReturn]

We need a Cambridge English Dictionary for children, perhaps even a poets edition 🤔 The English language should drip off our tongues...like Shakespeare’s honey...I shall search for that book...to refresh my palate 😉😊

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

That's a great idea!

[@lynnmortemore2184]

I recently read Landmarks (I think after you recommended it). I think it is one of the most extraordinary book I have ever read. I keep recommending it to friends. . Several people have mentioned The Lost Words book to me and the spell songs book written to accompany it. Wonderful! Also how do you pronounce your surname? I suspect I have been saying it wrong and have heard it pronounced a lot of different ways!

[@viod8650]

Hi can you tell me where he spoke of the landmark book

[@lynnmortemore2184]

@@viod8650 I’m not sure! I’ll try and remember

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

its pronounced to rhyme with Kite!

[@lynnmortemore2184]

@@MalcolmGuitespell Thank you, that’s what I thought. Wikipedia says it’s pronounced Gate 😂

[@timhower3628]

"Kennings" is this the correct spelling of the word? I want to do a Google search on this wonderful concept.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

yes I think that's the spelling