The text and paintings on The Trowbridge Chronicles are taken from the illustrated journal of Violet Trowbridge, a shrew that once lived in a village deep in the Olympic Rain Forest. Each new post will represent a portion of Mrs. Trowbridge’s journal.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

BURN AND CRASH !

Our story is slowly inching its way to a possible reunion between Keno and Shrew Khan. It has been many weeks since we have seen Khan. By now he could be missing...or worse. And things don't look so good for the passengers in the Imperial War Balloon either. And you think that YOU are having a bad day...


Meanwhile, back at the rain forest, Mrs. Trowbridge has written a poem about her nighttime walks. She loved walking in the forest at night. Trowbridge shrews are noctural creatures, you know. She wrote a lot of poems in her journal. I should have shared this one with you earlier in the summer, sometime in June, to coordinate with the poem. Perhaps I'll share more of her poetry with you in future episodes. This is one of my favorites...


A STARRY NIGHT IN JUNE
by Violet Trowbridge

Sometimes at dusk I climb the hill
to watch the stars appear.
The trail is steep, the brook is deep,
the air is crisp and clear.

The sunset casts as eerie spell
upon the earth below.
The peaks are dressed their summer best
in gleaming alpenglow.

The evening sky is lavender
with shades of amber gold.
The sun goes down, the colors fade,
the mountain wind turns cold.

Just o'er the hill the crickets sing
in four-part harmony.
What do I hear just up the creek?
A bullfrog symphony

My special place up near the top
is like a long-lost friend.
It's always there, come foul or fair
around the misty bend.

On nights like this I come to watch
the twinkling starlight show.
The moon climbs high up in the sky.
Its light is soft and low.

The moonbeams dance on drifting tufts
of blowing thistledown.
The flowers gleam like precious stones
upon a monarch's crown.

I gaze across the Milky Way
and dream of days gone by.
Then suddenly a shooting star
streaks across the sky.

The day I met my Woodrow
replays across my mind.
The night that my first litter came,
it follows close behind.

I make my way back down the hill.
My lantern is the moon.
It will be here when I return
some starry night in June.

14 comments:

studio lolo said...

One of my absolute favorites Bron!! I wish I could sit up there with Violet and wish upon that falling star. And look at how the moonbeams light the trail! Magical and sweet. Thank you!

carla said...

Mrs. T writes lovely poetry! The illustration is so magical as well... I love the dots of stars and flowers.

Erin Sherman said...

I really appreciate your comment to me. Especially coming from a Picture Bookie :)
I like the sparkly colorful texture on these hills.

HARDWAX said...

I love that wonderful poem, and the artwork, and they compliment each other perfectly, Mrs. Trowbridge has not lost her touch.
I fear for the passengers inthe Imperial ballon, but admit to enjoying the action and plot twists a tragedy might cause. Beautiful artwork and fascinating as always Bron!

Zari said...

wao...your blogs area great! love the concept of this one, and the funny maps are great!
thanks for your comment on mine...i appretiate it a lot!

Angela Matteson said...

Wow, this story has certainly a lot of action-packed drama.
I really love the moon illio. The hills seems to sparkle in the twilight. :)

Irma said...

Thanks for the comment! And I absolutely adore the illustration for the Starry Night poem. Very nice!

° said...

lov the bottom piece and nice continuation of the shew kan series. i do believe i hear pure polly shrew calling out to U shrew, noble and fearless rescurer of shrews in deep trouble. so theres no need to fear ....

Doug said...

Keno did pack his chute, didn't he?

...Didn't he???

Kim de Young said...

I think I am caught up now with the story and your never ending cliff hangers! I love the silk balloon paintings! Oh, yeah, in July we vacationed up the Oregon Coast to Mt. St. Helens... In about a month we move to Oregon... very exciting!

Digital Scott's Illustrationblog said...

Wow, very exciting! I've missed staying current with your posts with my busy summer.

Unknown said...

Lovely set, the landscape is very charming!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
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