TED HUGHES - HAWK ROOSTING

Well after about a half-a-mile walk along the Rochdale canal from Mytholmroyd towards Hebden Bridge (the canal is over the wall behind the statue), I have come to "the hawk" a memorial to Ted Hughes. Although there is nothing on the statue to tell the passer-by what its all about, there is an information board on the canal side which tells me that the statue is by Kenny Hunter. The sculpture is in part inspired by Ted Hughes magnificent poem: Hawk Roosting. A work which came from a childhood observation in nearby Redacre woods where Ted with his neighbour and childhood pal Donald Crossley spent much of his free time.

Sadly, I don't think much of this tribute - the tree stump is disproportionately large and there is an unfortunate disconnect between the pigeon-life pacifity of this bird and the charnel-house determination of Ted's raptor. An opportunity missed perhaps.

 

HAWK ROOSTING

 

I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed.

Inaction, no falsifying dream

Between my hooked head and hooked feet:

Or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat.

 

The convenience of the high trees!

The air's buoyancy and the sun's ray

Are of advantage to me;

And the earth's face upward for my inspection.

 

My feet are locked upon the rough bark.

It took the whole of Creation

To produce my foot, my each feather:

Now I hold Creation in my foot

 

Or fly up, and revolve it all slowly -

I kill where I please because it is all mine.

There is no sophistry in my body:

My manners are tearing off heads -

 

The allotment of death.

For the one path of my flight is direct

Through the bones of the living.

No arguments assert my right:

 

The sun is behind me.

Nothing has changed since I began.

My eye has permitted no change.

I am going to keep things like this

 

Ted Hughes 1930-1998.

 

Done