The Dominance of Fluidity: Thomas Hardy’s ‘Beeny Cliff’ and the Shifting Tides of ‘The Solway Firth’

Join Alden Carrow, author of Cumbria In Verse – Lakes To Fells In Poetry, for an immersive exploration of the "Dominance of Fluidity and Constant Change". This episode journeys from the vertical heights of Cornwall to the horizontal expanses of the Anglo-Scottish border, uncovering how landscape poetry captures the friction between permanence and the "ever-changing tide". Featured in this Episode: Thomas Hardy’s ‘Beeny Cliff’: We delve into Hardy’s haunting "Poems of 1912-13," a pilgrimage to the Cornish coast following the death of his wife, Emma. Discover how the "wandering western sea" and the "blind bare hideous cliff" serve as a "geological witness" to the fragile nature of human connection. ‘The Solway Firth’ by Alden Carrow: A deep dive into a landscape that "refuses to stay still". Unlike the dramatic drops of Beeny Cliff, the Solway is defined by its "extreme horizontal flatness" and powerful, "salt-weight" tides that rewrite the map twice a day. The Science of Poetry: Alden reveals the "scientific understanding" and "geological truths" behind his writing. From "asymmetrical sedimentation" and "post-glacial rebound" to the "tidal bore" of the Nith and Eden, learn how physical forces shape the "mechanics of fluidity" in verse. Human Traces: Explore the "futile attempts at containment" in the Firth, including "fixed wooden stakes" from ancient haaf net fishing and the "transient vehicular rhythms" of tyre tracks left on shifting sandbanks. Step into a world where "the solid world is constantly unmade and remade". Get Involved: What guest poem should Alden read next? Whether it’s a classic or a personal favourite, email your suggestions to [email protected].