Tag: Queen's Copse

A (Pine) Forest – 31st July 2025

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 13 Comments

silence loud
penetrating
the canvas of boughs

investigating
insects burrow down
through the carpet of needles

soft and damp
upheavals
a dripping darkness

with no echo
wolf eyes watching?
it feels so

stilted humid breath
whispers
into the silent depth

withers
dull and dissipated

joining in
accumulated
silent wings

flapping
the quiet life
within

Written (later) for the GloPoWriMo prompt Day 14:
Imagine the “music” of a place without people in it. So today, try writing a poem that describes a place, particularly in terms of the animals, plants or other natural phenomena there. Sink into the sound of your location, and use a conversational tone. Incorporate slant rhymes (near or off-rhymes, like “angle” and “flamenco”) into your poem. And for an extra challenge – don’t reference birds or birdsong!
This poem references Queen’s Copse, Holtwood, Dorset, England. A place I often visited in my youth.

7th Aug 2025 – conveniently shared with dVerse this week too.

The Copses – 7th December 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 4 Comments
Pic by Clare Westbrook

I
recall
the forests
walked in winters
Kings Copse and Queens Copse
Muddied paws, misty views
Foreboding darkness within
Fresh pine beds for love’s liaisons
Illicit affairs away from spies
Let’s hope no one else is walking their dogs
Wet nose
Surprise!

Shared with dVerse MTB: An Etheree Tree and inspired my explorations in my youth where I would often walk our dog or just go exploring for fun. Sometimes, with my first girlfriend and hidden deep within the dark confines of the forest, we would lay down on the soft pine needle bed.
Queen’s Copse is a pine forest and King’s Copse is an oak forest.
There are not many pictures from this area and the one above doesn’t really show just how dark it was inside, just a few feet away from the track. No light was getting in there.

*The Week That Was – 20th February 1984

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Record of the week: DOA – Bloodied But Unbowed (again), Middle Class Fantasies – Publikum, Minutemen – (anything)

20th February 1984
Burd and Rupe came round with rest of booze. Went to Mr Houldey’s – I did his drying up. Went to Shirl’s. Went home. Recorded some Bloodstains. Went to Mr Houldey’s again. Pissed around in Dandy’s room. Made some pancakes for them. Nicked her pyjamas. Recorded some more – can’t remember much else. DOA.

21st February 1984
Woke up at 4. Had a drink. Went back to bed. Woke up 6. Had a drink and squeezed some zits. Got up 11. Took Dandy’s pyjamas back. Started Bloodstains booklet. Listening to Crass. Giving up fags, booze etc. Written letter to Zoe. Feeling good today.

22nd February 1984
Got up 11. Had a bath. Had a wank. Listened to some Crass. Decided to stop getting Sounds. Went to see Muz and saw Burt and Jasp. Me and Muz went to Houldey’s, found out there was a party at Jo Holloway’s so went there later at night. Had some good times with Tanya and Mandy and had some bad times with Jo, Vicky and mum and dad. Anyway, DOA. Wrote letter to Zoe again.

23rd February 1984
Muz and Scott and Burt woke me up at 10.30. Went to Queen’s Copse. Saw Annabel on the way. Got done by. the Forestry Commission. Came back. They went home. Went to Gaunts later. Had a go on Muz’s computer at Football Manager. Went up to Annabels’ with Muz, Scott and Burt. Came back – pissed around on Muz’s computer some more. Went home.

24th February 1984
Went to Wimborne to go to dentists. Saw Liz J so decided to stay in Wimborne. Was with her and Jason most of the day. Went into the Yew Tree three times for some tea. Pissed about all day. Came back on the bus.Had to give Andy Froud a lift to Horton on moped as bus didn’t go to Horton. Went to Muz’s and we went to Houldey’s.

25th February 1984
Woke up 12.30. Went to Muz’s 1.30. Got to First Division in Football Manager. Lost FA Cup Final to Brighton. Came back 4.35, took dog for walk. Played with cat. Had tea. Went to Muz’s 6.30. Decided to go to party. His mum gave us some money. Went to Wimborne. Bought some booze to add to the wine. Saw Stroud who was going so we followed him to Pamphill. We decided not to go in so we came back to my place and got snotted. Fell asleep watching a film – according to mum.

26th February 1984
Woke up 12. Had some lovely food. I was fucking starving for some reason. Played some records while doing Maths homework – what a bore – maths that is. Thinking about becoming a vegan. Going down Muz’s later, see what state he’s in. Had a bath. Had a wank. Listening to DOA again. Went to Muz’s. He wouldn’t come out/I couldn’t go in – doing his Maths homework – yawn. Came home. Went to find Chris on my moped – couldn’t find him so came home and watch the film – pretty good. God knows how I’m going to get up tomorrow.

*The Week That Was – 10th April 1983

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Record of the week: Bauhaus – She’s In Parties

10th April 1983
Went to Simon’s with Justin
FUCKIN’ KNACKERED

11th April 1983
Went to Copse with Mat
Fuckin ace laugh

12th April 1983
Got some photocopying done
Making art

13th April 1983
Went to copse – had fun
Black Flag rule at the mo!
Been doing awful
FARTZ
Cat is playful

14th April 1983
FUCKIN’ GERT MUD FIGHT

15th April 1983
Can’t remember

16th April 1983
Walked back from Poole

*The Week That Was – 3rd April 1983

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Record of the week: Butcher – On The Ground

3rd April 1983
Defender is brill
Mat came round and we set up record sheet

4th April 1983
Played Defender til 2
1,000,000 +

5th April 1983
CAN’T REMEMBER

6th April 1983
JUSTIN STAYED
WENT TO SLEEP AT 6

7th April 1983
CAN’T REMEMBER
(SUNDAY)

8th April 1983
Went to Queen’s Copse
All I can remember

9th April 1983
Practice was good
Stayed at Justin’s