James Thomson in Richmond Park: London #15

 

'JAMES THOMSON

1700–1748

AUTHOR OF "THE SEASONS"

RESIDED FOR THE LAST TWELVE

YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN RICHMOND

AND IS BURIED IN THE PARISH CHURCH.

THIS MEMORIAL, THE SUCCESSOR OF

SEVERAL EARLIER BOARDS, WAS ERECTED

IN 1895. IT WAS REPAIRED AND RE-LETTERED

FOR THE BICENTENARY OF THOMSON'S

DEATH 27TH AUGUST 1948. THE INSCRIBED

POEM IS BY JOHN HENEAGE JESSE.'

 

'YE, WHO FROM LONDON'S SMOKE AND TURMOIL FLY,
TO SEEK A PURER AIR AND BRIGHTER SKY
THINK OF THE BARD WHO DWELT IN YONDER DELL,
WHO SANG SO SWEETLY WHAT HE LOVED SO WELL,
THINK, AS YE GAZE ON THESE LUXURIANT BOWERS,
HERE, THOMSON LOVED THE SUNSHINE AND THE FLOWERS.
HE WHO COULD PAINT ALL THEIR VARIED FORMS,
APRIL'S YOUNG BLOOM, DECEMBER'S DREARY STORMS.
BY YON FAIR STREAM, WHICH CALMLY GLIDES ALONG,
PURE AS HIS LIFE, AND LOVELY AS HIS SONG,
THERE OFT HE ROVED. IN YONDER CHURCHYARD LIES
ALL OF THE DEATHLESS BARD THAT EVER DIES,
FOR HERE HIS GENTLE SPRIIT LINGERS STILL.
IN YON SWEET VALE – ON THIS ENCHANTED HILL,
FLINGING A HOLIER IN'TREST O'ER THE GROVE.
STIRRING THE HEART TO POETRY AND LOVE.
AND VIEW IN NATURE'S BEAUTIES NATURE'S GOD.'