The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Photographs
1807 The English Meadow The sky is the bluest of blues Little Anna’s arms are full of flowers buttercups forget-me-nots corncockles love-in-a-mist feverfew and marigolds The air is thick with butterflies and bees Father carries a jar of clambering insects A heavy book weighs down his coat
Anna finds a poppy She wants to keep the poppy forever Father passes her the book She opens it and places the poppy on the pages She closes the cover pressing the flower flat It will dry there between the pages preserved for her to examine later Father claps in delight
