Dreaming of Manderley
poems by Paula Puddephatt, inspired by the novels of Daphne du Maurier
Friday, 1 December 2017
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Poet's note
Since creating this blog, I have read several more of Daphne du Maurier's books: "The Birds and other stories", "Breaking Point short stories", "The Doll and other stories", "Mary Anne", "The Scapegoat" and "I'll Never Be Young Again". The related poetry seems to have "dried up" at present, unfortunately - hence the fact that these poems relate only to the novels "Rebecca", "Jamaica Inn", "Frenchman's Creek" and "My Cousin Rachel".
I hope to read further du Maurier novels/short stories in the future, including "The House on the Strand". If I do feel inspired to write further poems based upon Daphne's excellent novels, or the short stories, I will include them on this blog.
I hope to read further du Maurier novels/short stories in the future, including "The House on the Strand". If I do feel inspired to write further poems based upon Daphne's excellent novels, or the short stories, I will include them on this blog.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
"My Cousin Rachel" (inspired by Daphne du Maurier's "My Cousin Rachel")
Orphaned as a small child -
raised by my elder cousin, Ambrose -
secure together, in our "house of men" -
Ambrose, my cousin -
yet, father, mother, brother -
Ambrose was all. My world.
They used to hang men at Four Turnings
in the old days.
Not any more, though.
I was seven, when
Ambrose showed me
the hanging body of a man.
The man's name was Tom Jenkyn.
He used to sell lobsters.
He murdered his wife,
and for his crime,
Tom Jenkyn hung.
Our damp Cornish winters
did not agree with Ambrose,
necessitating travel -
winters to be spent on the Continent.
And in Florence,
in his forties,
that what where, and when, he met
the Countess Sangalletti -
My Cousin Rachel.
She apparently shared his love of gardening.
Then came the letter,
announcing that
Ambrose and My Cousin Rachel
were married.
I had not know such jealousy -
such intense jealousy - before.
And so few letters.
And when they came...
And that journey to Florence -
and the churches -
and the haunting face
of a beggar woman.
The sudden shock -
the news of
Ambrose's death.
And the villa -
and the fountain -
boy holding a shell -
the laburnun trees -
the unreality of that foreign land.
And, back at home, the hatred
that grew -
of a Rachel
who never existed -
and the love
for a Rachel
who - did that one exist?
Sunday lunches
with the Kendalls and Pascoes -
and My Cousin Rachel.
Especially, that first one.
Especially, the last.
And Rainaldi - hated by Ambrose,
hated by me.
Regarded by My Cousin Rachel as
friend, confidante -
maybe lover, as well?
And the pearls -
around Rachel's white neck -
and a wedding -
my marriage to Rachel -
a wedding
that never took place.
And my own illness.
And - was Rachel innocent?
Was Rachel guilty?
An evening walk
in the terraced garden.
A warning, not heeded.
The image of a granite slab -
a pocket book -
letter from Ambrose - buried,
along with the pocket book.
They used to hang men at Four Turnings
in the old days.
Not any more, though.
raised by my elder cousin, Ambrose -
secure together, in our "house of men" -
Ambrose, my cousin -
yet, father, mother, brother -
Ambrose was all. My world.
They used to hang men at Four Turnings
in the old days.
Not any more, though.
I was seven, when
Ambrose showed me
the hanging body of a man.
The man's name was Tom Jenkyn.
He used to sell lobsters.
He murdered his wife,
and for his crime,
Tom Jenkyn hung.
Our damp Cornish winters
did not agree with Ambrose,
necessitating travel -
winters to be spent on the Continent.
And in Florence,
in his forties,
that what where, and when, he met
the Countess Sangalletti -
My Cousin Rachel.
She apparently shared his love of gardening.
Then came the letter,
announcing that
Ambrose and My Cousin Rachel
were married.
I had not know such jealousy -
such intense jealousy - before.
And so few letters.
And when they came...
And that journey to Florence -
and the churches -
and the haunting face
of a beggar woman.
The sudden shock -
the news of
Ambrose's death.
And the villa -
and the fountain -
boy holding a shell -
the laburnun trees -
the unreality of that foreign land.
And, back at home, the hatred
that grew -
of a Rachel
who never existed -
and the love
for a Rachel
who - did that one exist?
Sunday lunches
with the Kendalls and Pascoes -
and My Cousin Rachel.
Especially, that first one.
Especially, the last.
And Rainaldi - hated by Ambrose,
hated by me.
Regarded by My Cousin Rachel as
friend, confidante -
maybe lover, as well?
And the pearls -
around Rachel's white neck -
and a wedding -
my marriage to Rachel -
a wedding
that never took place.
And my own illness.
And - was Rachel innocent?
Was Rachel guilty?
An evening walk
in the terraced garden.
A warning, not heeded.
The image of a granite slab -
a pocket book -
letter from Ambrose - buried,
along with the pocket book.
They used to hang men at Four Turnings
in the old days.
Not any more, though.
"Temptation" (inspired by Daphne du Maurier's "My Cousin Rachel")
My Cousin Rachel. My cousin. Rachel.
My first, last and only.
My temptation. My torment.
Our temptation. Our torment.
My first, last and only.
My temptation. My torment.
Our temptation. Our torment.
Saturday, 11 May 2013
"Fancy Dress" (inspired by Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca")
Finely orchestrated, yet so cruel.
Does each of us have our own
version of
the Manderley fancy dress ball?
We start out with innocent,
childish excitement -
yet, too soon, learn the hardest lesson of all -
feel the world becoming hostile,
and cruel. So very cruel.
Did all of us, at one time, long to have
a fancy dress ball, held "in our honour"?
Make the drummer announce me, Clarice.
You know, how they do.
Does each of us have our own
version of
the Manderley fancy dress ball?
We start out with innocent,
childish excitement -
yet, too soon, learn the hardest lesson of all -
feel the world becoming hostile,
and cruel. So very cruel.
Did all of us, at one time, long to have
a fancy dress ball, held "in our honour"?
Make the drummer announce me, Clarice.
You know, how they do.
"La Mouette" (inspired by Daphne du Maurier's "Frenchman's Creek")
bored with her London self and life
with the role of dutiful
mother and wife
a fugitive
she arrives in Cornwall
at Navron
the family estate
seeking to escape
from that other life
that other Dona
the masquerade
that was no life at all
and the peace
that she craves
she finds it here
and yet
is it really the peace
that she seeks
or adventure
passion
danger
love
an enchanted creek
pirate ship
Frenchman - fugitive - kindred spirit
an artist - sketching a heron
La Mouette
adventure
passion
danger
and love
with the role of dutiful
mother and wife
a fugitive
she arrives in Cornwall
at Navron
the family estate
seeking to escape
from that other life
that other Dona
the masquerade
that was no life at all
and the peace
that she craves
she finds it here
and yet
is it really the peace
that she seeks
or adventure
passion
danger
love
an enchanted creek
pirate ship
Frenchman - fugitive - kindred spirit
an artist - sketching a heron
La Mouette
adventure
passion
danger
and love
"Mary and the Horse Thief" (inspired by Daphne du Maurier's "Jamaica Inn")
I could be said to be
falling in love
with a horse thief,
in spite of myself.
Yet, I don't - won't - refuse to - call it
"falling in love".
I am simply a woman,
and he is a man,
and something inside of me
is responding to something
about the man.
That is all.
And I try to ignore
the fact that his hands
are just like his brother's -
the hands of a murderer.
The hands of a murderer.
Seventeen years:
That's how long
my mother spent
as a widow.
Our little farm in Helford -
it was the only life
that I had ever known.
But the crops were failing;
the animals were dying.
When we buried Nell, the faithful old mare,
I watched
steel turn into shattering china,
before my young eyes:
witnessed my mother's first,
last and only
serious illness -
nursed her through
her final days -
reluctantly promising...
And so the promise - to go to my aunt.
I honoured my word.
And the moors,
so bleak and wild -
the landscape fills me with
a twisted, distorted
form of love.
So unlike my love, so pure,
for the river - for Helford - for
my people. My home.
And there it stands:
grey, solitary,
sinister and secretive,
the inn that bars its doors
to passing travellers -
not that many would wish,
or dare...
Yes, I could be said
to be falling in love
with my horse thief,
but I choose
to use
different words
instead.
falling in love
with a horse thief,
in spite of myself.
Yet, I don't - won't - refuse to - call it
"falling in love".
I am simply a woman,
and he is a man,
and something inside of me
is responding to something
about the man.
That is all.
And I try to ignore
the fact that his hands
are just like his brother's -
the hands of a murderer.
The hands of a murderer.
Seventeen years:
That's how long
my mother spent
as a widow.
Our little farm in Helford -
it was the only life
that I had ever known.
But the crops were failing;
the animals were dying.
When we buried Nell, the faithful old mare,
I watched
steel turn into shattering china,
before my young eyes:
witnessed my mother's first,
last and only
serious illness -
nursed her through
her final days -
reluctantly promising...
And so the promise - to go to my aunt.
I honoured my word.
And the moors,
so bleak and wild -
the landscape fills me with
a twisted, distorted
form of love.
So unlike my love, so pure,
for the river - for Helford - for
my people. My home.
And there it stands:
grey, solitary,
sinister and secretive,
the inn that bars its doors
to passing travellers -
not that many would wish,
or dare...
Yes, I could be said
to be falling in love
with my horse thief,
but I choose
to use
different words
instead.
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