{"id":1409,"date":"2026-04-24T15:50:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T15:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elizabethgoudge.org\/?p=1409"},"modified":"2026-04-24T15:50:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T15:50:08","slug":"happy-birthday-elizabeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elizabethgoudge.org\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/happy-birthday-elizabeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Birthday Elizabeth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Have you seen but a white lily grow before rude hands
had touched it?
Have you seen but the fall of the snow before the earth
hath smutched it?
Have you felt the wool of beaver, or swan\u2019s down ever?
Have you smelt of the bud of the briar or the nard
in the fire?
Have you tasted the bag of the bee?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ben Johnson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Swans in our Garden at Riverside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These lines begin the first chapter of your biography and epitomise the core of the books you wrote. The Natural world was as much a character as the families you brought into existence. Your words open the door to places we wish to inhabit, lead us to homes lived with faith and love and understanding that we wish to be a part of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wonder what the weather was like the April day you came into the world? I would love to think it was a soft, bright day like today, filled with scent and birdsong. Although the historical newspaper report suggests that it was cold with blustery showers of rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I imagine your mother in her clean bed in Tower House being presented with her girl child wrapped up in a shawl, smiling through the trauma and pain we now know she underwent in bringing you to us. Your Father\u2019s hesitant steps as he makes your acquaintance. \u201cA threefold cord shall not be broken\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember going to Tower House and the wonderful Goudgian moment which allowed me access to your first childhood garden wrapped around by high walls; the view you had from your bedroom window. The fairytale quality of the house with it\u2019s tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You broke through the convention and walls of your upbringing to bring us stories which have lived for nearly a hundred years. Your poetic lyrical writing is a haunting presence, a companionship I return to over and over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You say in your biography “I know I can never write another novel, for I do not think there is anything else to say” <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the words you did write have helped me through the bleak times. Through loneliness, and grief. You helped me to experience the web of life that we are born into. You gave me companionship and understanding. You helped to make me the poet I am becoming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Happy Birthday dear Elizabeth I am so glad I found you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Elizabeth’s Miniature Writing Desk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you seen but a white lily grow before rude handshad touched it?Have you seen but the fall of the snow before the earthhath smutched it?Have you felt the wool of beaver, or swan\u2019s down ever?Have you smelt of the bud of the briar or the nardin the fire?Have you tasted the bag of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[111,15,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-chat","category-uncategorized","no-post-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"\nHappy Birthday Elizabeth - Elizabeth Goudge<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.elizabethgoudge.org\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/happy-birthday-elizabeth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Happy Birthday Elizabeth - 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