Puzzle Pic 15

[Ann]

1. One morning in the springtime of my life,
2. When harps Aeolian stretch from tree to tree,
3. And in the breeze the birds sing humanly,
4. I gathered to my heart a fairy wife.

5. But when the cruel summer's sun shot forth,
6. It scorched the flowers, the trees - and with a gasp
7. She loosened her frail hold of Life's warm clasp,
8. And weary sank into the envious earth.

9. In dreary winter, all alone I pine,
10. Fall dead, O leaves! numbed is my aching heart;
11. I live to die; for when from life I part,
12. Then spring returns again then she'll be mine!

[Cathrin]

I could scream!! I did a nice long reply and it logged me out Anyway, grumble, grumble.
One day I might get one of these right maybe ...

1. ----- (angel/death) of my life
2. When ---- hammock (?)
3. ---- breeze ye (swallow/swift/flock) ---
4. I --- to my heart (fairy/nymph) wife
5. But when ye ---- whom ----
6. it --- ye flowers and ye trees and with a ---
7. she runned her ------
8. and weary sank --- envious world
9.
10. fall --- o leaves numbed my heart
11. I live to --- for when from life I ---
12. Then spring returns --- shell(shall) be ripped

45 inches -- ell (an old fabric mesurement, gran was a seamstress)

[Ann]

Oh no, that's so frustrating.

I had no idea that 45" was an ell, so I'd probably never have worked that bit out!

I'm wondering if that's an awning in line one and if the figure is the grim reaper ie death. I think the line might be something to do with "I mourn the.........

Could line 2 have something to do with boredom (2 boards)

[Ann]

By the way, it's still a sharp picture if you zoom it to 150%. It sometimes helps when trying to work out what the pics are.

[Cathrin]

That is an awning, but I think that the next pictogram is a 'coil'

[Ann]

I thought that too. I keep thinking of "mortal coil" as in "shuffling off this mortal coil". I did also wonder if it was rope or string.

I got a few more words last night which I'll add.

[Ann]

It's One morning .................!!!!!!

And could that dog in line 7 possibly be a stray, although with a collar and lead that seems unlikely. It would give "strained" though.

By the way, I have no idea what that assortment of things at the end of line 7 is. I've even looked at the original picture, but the one online is probably clearer because it's considerably bigger than the original.

There seem to be 10 syllables to each line.

[Cathrin]

When boredom stretch from tree to tree?

Line 7. could the dog be hound as in hounded?
and after frail, is that a tray of food as in 'board' or 'platter'?

line 11. is it 'I live to pull forth' when from life I shall part

[Ann]

I think I'm stuck! I've been really busy this past couple of days and haven't had time to sit and have a think about it. I'll see if any inspiration comes tomorrow.

[Ann]

I've just had another look and I'm definitely stuck. Shall I post the solution? (No doubt 500 Victorian girls got it right again!)

[Cathrin]

Please post the solution Ann, sorry about the delay, but I have been so busy at work I haven't had time to think.

[Ann]

Duly posted. We did a lot better than I'd thought and it's comforting to read in the Examiner's Report that out of nearly 500 entries, there were no "perfect" solutions and "the number of really good ones was smaller than usual". It was good to read that around 200 Victorian girls also struggled with the Aeolian harps in line 2. (I think I can safely say that never in a million years would I have solved that line!)

Apparently the 10th line (which we actually made a fair attempt at), was the biggest stumbling block to the Victorian girls and less than 10 of them got it right.