KAY Kemp was the sister of my late mother, Grace Knowles, who was well known in the Forest for musical matters and choirs such as Lydcroft Singers. Kay Kemp may be remembered by some of your older readers as a nurse in the Yorkley area in the years following World War Two.

I was having a clear out in my loft and amongst a pile of old papers found the attached poem,

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Naked Stark oaks spreading o'er hillsides

swept oft with better winds,

Shiver and whisper with many voices:

Soon, soon the woodsman's axe will with slow

skill and sureness bring them,

A sight at which no simple heart rejoices.

Great patches of close dark green conifers

bearly stir their leafy dresses,

The wind offendeth not their dignity;

But swiftly every branch and leaf and needle

transformed by glittering hoar frost,

Is sculptured into dazzling symmetry.

Then like a blanket softly enveloping all

falls the snow

Over each valley and hill;

Beauty sublime, pure and austere is this

be jewelled coverlet,

The noisy world is still.

Aye, nature has the Forest in her most

remorseless grip,

And man is proved again both frail and small.

But his soul can rise supreme above his

weakness, if he knows

That God rules ever wisely over all.

Kay Kemp.

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I know you print the occasional poem, and the sentiments of this one, in view of the time of year, seemed entirely appropriate, and you may consider it to be suitable for publication. I had no idea that she even liked poetry never mind being able to write something like this.

– Peter J Knowles, Tuffley, Gloucester.