An overcast, grey and mostly wet day. The drizzle kept visibility down to just about 1 mile, with the lighthouse and the fabrication yard only just about within sight. There was a strong breeze today, but that did serve to keep our temps at an unexpectedly mild 10C / 50F, the highest in the land. This often happens in the winter half-year, when mild air off the Atlantic warms us up.
This evening, momentous news came through from the island of Scalpay, just off the coast of North Harris, 8 miles east of Tarbert. A ballot was held among its residents, 78.2% of whom turned out to vote whether to take their island into community ownership. Scalpay is owned by a man called Fred Taylor, but he has decided to gift the island to its residents. 197 were in favour, only 8 against. A second question was whether to go it alone, or under the umbrella of the North Harris Trust, a body that took control of that area of Harris a few years ago. Votes were 110 in favour, 96 against.Apart from being a new addition to the list of areas now under community ownership, it is also historical because up to now, the people from Scalpay did not really regard themselves as from Harris - separate islands.
Today, as we all know, the USA is voting for its next president. We shall learn within 12 hours of this post going live whether #45 will be Barack Obama or Mitt Romney.
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
A dreich day
Light fades over the islands
Grey to greyer still
not a ray of
sunshine to be had today
The drizzle hides
what isn't that far off
the breeze shakes
the now bare branches
From sun-soaked seas
to the northern Hebrides
a final hint of distant
summer wafts our way
Soon the edge of mild
will move away east
leaving us with crisp
and once more chill
A grain of hail
a splash of wet snow
winter draws near
dark at half four
Look north for the
merry dancers
a moving green
curtain down from the pole
Even further north
beyond the land of fire
no sunshine at all
on solstice day
Grey to greyer still
not a ray of
sunshine to be had today
The drizzle hides
what isn't that far off
the breeze shakes
the now bare branches
From sun-soaked seas
to the northern Hebrides
a final hint of distant
summer wafts our way
Soon the edge of mild
will move away east
leaving us with crisp
and once more chill
A grain of hail
a splash of wet snow
winter draws near
dark at half four
Look north for the
merry dancers
a moving green
curtain down from the pole
Even further north
beyond the land of fire
no sunshine at all
on solstice day
Monday, 5 November 2012
Monday 5 November
Guy Fawkes night today, but other than a few firecrackers, little evidence of the event here in Stornoway. This morning, a crane was spotted on Goat Island, hoisting a rusty, twin-hulled boat out of the premises of the slipway and put on blocks on the roadway outside. The significance of that is not known to me.
Today was a bright and fairly sunny day, although cloud did increase through the afternoon. It left us with another stunning sunset at 4.30pm. By late December, sunset will have receded to 3.30pm.
The fuel price saga took another twist today, when wholesalers Scottish Fuels announced that their retail customers could switch suppliers and not be tied into a 5-year contract. However, those wishing to do so were advised to seek legal advice. The average price of a litre of fuel is not far off £1.50 a litre (= $9 a gallon), and is consistently 15 pence higher than on the mainland.
Today was a bright and fairly sunny day, although cloud did increase through the afternoon. It left us with another stunning sunset at 4.30pm. By late December, sunset will have receded to 3.30pm.
The fuel price saga took another twist today, when wholesalers Scottish Fuels announced that their retail customers could switch suppliers and not be tied into a 5-year contract. However, those wishing to do so were advised to seek legal advice. The average price of a litre of fuel is not far off £1.50 a litre (= $9 a gallon), and is consistently 15 pence higher than on the mainland.
The boat from Pabbay
Row boys, row!
We're going out again
The sail will help us on our way
Out to the fishing grounds
Look, there goes another boat
They too are venturing forth
Can't be too bad a day
If we're all out here just now
Ominous grey clouds
scudding on the rising wind
soon touching galeforce
soon right up to stormforce
From the open ocean
Squalls of rain fly past
The islands loom up to the west
Now shrouded from sight
Row boys, row!
We've got to turn back
if we can
The sail has gone
Did you see the others?
Not for quite some time
Never mind, keep bailing
We may yet have a chance
Two days the storm lasted
nobody could put to sea
the herring was left uncaught
as the boats remained in port
The boat from Mingulay
weathered the storm to return
to their island
safe and well
Pabbay lost ALL
its menfolk
that May Day in 1897
all in one boat
We're going out again
The sail will help us on our way
Out to the fishing grounds
Look, there goes another boat
They too are venturing forth
Can't be too bad a day
If we're all out here just now
Ominous grey clouds
scudding on the rising wind
soon touching galeforce
soon right up to stormforce
From the open ocean
Squalls of rain fly past
The islands loom up to the west
Now shrouded from sight
Row boys, row!
We've got to turn back
if we can
The sail has gone
Did you see the others?
Not for quite some time
Never mind, keep bailing
We may yet have a chance
Two days the storm lasted
nobody could put to sea
the herring was left uncaught
as the boats remained in port
The boat from Mingulay
weathered the storm to return
to their island
safe and well
Pabbay lost ALL
its menfolk
that May Day in 1897
all in one boat
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Sunday 4 November
Like yesterday, today started out wet but cleared up nicely. As I type this, we have fallen back to near-zero after achieving a day-time high of 8C / 46F. There was no wind to speak of; I went for a walk which was sheltered from the light northwesterly wind that the weatherstation at airport was reporting.
I was just going through my blogs on Google Reader, and could not help but notice that things have changed a lot over the past four years. In AOL J-land, we communicated our blogposts primarily through the Alerts, which have only recently been discontinued. After moving away from AOL, Facebook came on the scene and I can safely say that I am keeping up to date mainly through that medium, rather than through the blogs. Even though many of you (like I) resort to blogging to express ourselves in longer entries. As you all know, I have been blogging for more than 8 years, and still enjoy putting a couple of lines down each day.
I was just going through my blogs on Google Reader, and could not help but notice that things have changed a lot over the past four years. In AOL J-land, we communicated our blogposts primarily through the Alerts, which have only recently been discontinued. After moving away from AOL, Facebook came on the scene and I can safely say that I am keeping up to date mainly through that medium, rather than through the blogs. Even though many of you (like I) resort to blogging to express ourselves in longer entries. As you all know, I have been blogging for more than 8 years, and still enjoy putting a couple of lines down each day.
Calm
Flat calm
Upside down
in the water
Indistinguishable
Reflections
or original
Even the lighthouse
perhaps even the mountains far-off
Benign clouds
slowly move
on an unseen
but unfelt wind
A small boat
carves through
the mirror which
quickly resmoothes
Dusk slowly
overtakes and dulls
the reflections of
daytime
To be replaced
by the high moon
of nearing winter
Enoy the calm - while it lasts
Upside down
in the water
Indistinguishable
Reflections
or original
Even the lighthouse
perhaps even the mountains far-off
Benign clouds
slowly move
on an unseen
but unfelt wind
A small boat
carves through
the mirror which
quickly resmoothes
Dusk slowly
overtakes and dulls
the reflections of
daytime
To be replaced
by the high moon
of nearing winter
Enoy the calm - while it lasts
Sunday
The grey canopy
breaks to the southeast
A promise of sunshine
over the mainland hills
A gentle rain
falls over grey streets
calm and movementless
a Sunday morning
Worshippers proceed
to church in an orderly
fashion, quietly so
to beseech blessings
Whether He listens
is up to Him to decide
Most appear favoured
others are oblivious
Should we go somewhere
on the day of rest
None are disturbed
Peace has remained
Our link to the world
will sail in the afternoon
Another link takes to the air
But none are disturbed
breaks to the southeast
A promise of sunshine
over the mainland hills
A gentle rain
falls over grey streets
calm and movementless
a Sunday morning
Worshippers proceed
to church in an orderly
fashion, quietly so
to beseech blessings
Whether He listens
is up to Him to decide
Most appear favoured
others are oblivious
Should we go somewhere
on the day of rest
None are disturbed
Peace has remained
Our link to the world
will sail in the afternoon
Another link takes to the air
But none are disturbed
Saturday, 3 November 2012
Saturday 3 November
A bright day, although the morning was punctuated by some downpours. These faded after lunchtime, giving me the opportunity to go for a walk round the Castle Grounds, 3½ miles or so. It is particularly rewarding to do so at this time of the year, when the leaves are turning and falling. So far, this autumn has been quite benign in terms of high wind, which we have been spared. This means that rather than being blown off the trees, leaves have a chance of showing their colours.
I was not surprised that the New York marathon was cancelled for tomorrow, although some of the participants were. What planet were they on?
I was not surprised that the New York marathon was cancelled for tomorrow, although some of the participants were. What planet were they on?
November
Low sun
pale blue sky
bare branches
a cold wind
Dark green losing
colour to palest hue
Leaves gently
drift down
Demure yellow
before falling
Standing out
in final glory
Riches in berries
seeds being scattered
in the blanket of leaves
new life in waiting
Dark clouds speed in
the wind lifts its voice
the command is heeded
Leaves scatter
Distant hills don
their white caps
the sun now sets early
ice glazes what rain has wetted
The signal is raised
The window is open
For the voice of the North
To sing the final of the year
pale blue sky
bare branches
a cold wind
Dark green losing
colour to palest hue
Leaves gently
drift down
Demure yellow
before falling
Standing out
in final glory
Riches in berries
seeds being scattered
in the blanket of leaves
new life in waiting
Dark clouds speed in
the wind lifts its voice
the command is heeded
Leaves scatter
Distant hills don
their white caps
the sun now sets early
ice glazes what rain has wetted
The signal is raised
The window is open
For the voice of the North
To sing the final of the year
The clearance
Let's have some cuts
can't sustain all that lumber
I'm not here to provide
for those that can't help themselves
Back when Napoleon strode
the battlefields of Europe
we needed gunpowder
and only kelp would do
I had those natives
along the shoreline cutting
seaweed for me for
just a few bob
They didn't need much land
but now they're just sitting there
eating out of my pocket
leaving me out of pocket for all the meal
Going forth and multiplying
well, they can go on daddy's croft
divide, subdivide
and rule
I want my money out of them
Can't get it from anywhere else
Can't afford to be seen to be less rich
So they can't afford the rent?
Gone round the villages
Who's in arrears, off you go
We'll cancel what's owed
if you go to America
Here is the ship
you can take so much
leave the rest behind
including your relatives
Don't want to go, how dare you
Torch to the roof
Milk on the fire,
OK, we'll let you bury your dead
The statue stands grand
in the deserted glen
Green fields of grass
Rolling hills around
The statue stands grand
in the Canadian city
The achievements celebrated
of those boldly gone forth
Did they want to leave their
humble homesteads
where their forefathers
lived happily?
Achievements for sure
Many did great things
in the land of the prairie
But why not in their homeland?
can't sustain all that lumber
I'm not here to provide
for those that can't help themselves
Back when Napoleon strode
the battlefields of Europe
we needed gunpowder
and only kelp would do
I had those natives
along the shoreline cutting
seaweed for me for
just a few bob
They didn't need much land
but now they're just sitting there
eating out of my pocket
leaving me out of pocket for all the meal
Going forth and multiplying
well, they can go on daddy's croft
divide, subdivide
and rule
I want my money out of them
Can't get it from anywhere else
Can't afford to be seen to be less rich
So they can't afford the rent?
Gone round the villages
Who's in arrears, off you go
We'll cancel what's owed
if you go to America
Here is the ship
you can take so much
leave the rest behind
including your relatives
Don't want to go, how dare you
Torch to the roof
Milk on the fire,
OK, we'll let you bury your dead
The statue stands grand
in the deserted glen
Green fields of grass
Rolling hills around
The statue stands grand
in the Canadian city
The achievements celebrated
of those boldly gone forth
Did they want to leave their
humble homesteads
where their forefathers
lived happily?
Achievements for sure
Many did great things
in the land of the prairie
But why not in their homeland?
Friday, 2 November 2012
Friday 2 November
Quite a bright day with an occasional shower or two, but turning very cold after nightfall - we are just on or below freezing at the moment. We didn't manage more than 6C / 43F in the afternoon.
News came through that the interconnector is to be delayed by at least a year. The interconnector is a subsea high-voltage electricity cable, which is crucial for exporting power, generated by proposed renewable energy projects in the Isle of Lewis. These consist in the main of windfarms. Two are currently under construction, but reading the submission from power company SSE, it sounds as if they are gradually backing out of the idea. The cost has risen to a total of £775m, and the delay would augment the cost further. I'm not too unhappy with the idea of the interconnector never coming here, but others are crying wolf, claiming it would be the wrecking of the islands' economy.
I have been in Lewis 8 years this month, and over that period, windfarms have been talked about an awful lot. They were vaunted as the salvation for the employment problems here, with some rosey-eyed individuals thinking it would lead to the return of the diaspora to work in the local fabrication yard. Since then, the fabrication yard has operated more off than on, switching owners several times. Constructing a windfarm does generate jobs, but only for a limited period of time. The Pentland Road windfarm has had its wind turbine components fabricated elsewhere, as they were shipped in earlier this week from another factory. And if the interconnector never materialises, then many millions of pounds will have been wasted.
News came through that the interconnector is to be delayed by at least a year. The interconnector is a subsea high-voltage electricity cable, which is crucial for exporting power, generated by proposed renewable energy projects in the Isle of Lewis. These consist in the main of windfarms. Two are currently under construction, but reading the submission from power company SSE, it sounds as if they are gradually backing out of the idea. The cost has risen to a total of £775m, and the delay would augment the cost further. I'm not too unhappy with the idea of the interconnector never coming here, but others are crying wolf, claiming it would be the wrecking of the islands' economy.
I have been in Lewis 8 years this month, and over that period, windfarms have been talked about an awful lot. They were vaunted as the salvation for the employment problems here, with some rosey-eyed individuals thinking it would lead to the return of the diaspora to work in the local fabrication yard. Since then, the fabrication yard has operated more off than on, switching owners several times. Constructing a windfarm does generate jobs, but only for a limited period of time. The Pentland Road windfarm has had its wind turbine components fabricated elsewhere, as they were shipped in earlier this week from another factory. And if the interconnector never materialises, then many millions of pounds will have been wasted.
Callanish
Sun and moon
seasons' cycle
winter snow
round to autumn rain
Marked out in stones
high on the ridge top
two dozen others
not far away
Aligned to distant hills
obscuring the moon
when the nights
are not dark
One was interred
in the centre circle
where he is now, none know
but not there for sure
They come now from far-off loands
to visit the stones
celebrate the sunrise
at solstice, forgetting the moon
All is quiet
as the days shorten
winds batter the circle
impervious to what passes
They have seen many
pass by
never returning
They will remain
seasons' cycle
winter snow
round to autumn rain
Marked out in stones
high on the ridge top
two dozen others
not far away
Aligned to distant hills
obscuring the moon
when the nights
are not dark
One was interred
in the centre circle
where he is now, none know
but not there for sure
They come now from far-off loands
to visit the stones
celebrate the sunrise
at solstice, forgetting the moon
All is quiet
as the days shorten
winds batter the circle
impervious to what passes
They have seen many
pass by
never returning
They will remain
The old cemetery
A rusty gate
from the sandy dunes
A wall of stone
on all four sides
A rock-strewn hillside
inside
The sea incessantly
speaks from the shore
Strange
no rocks
outside the walls
just flower-clad sands
Rolling away
in every direction
down to the ocean
their ancient roadway
Living from the bounty
of the ever-present sea
it would exact its price
giving change - wreckage on the shore
Living in penury
but happily
demure hamlets
strung out to the north
Poor ground prompted
a move inland for summer
gathering fuel
before the storms came
Unknown were the riches
in money and goods
Riches in happiness and
the strength of kinship
Only a rock
remains within walls
a mark of ending
to remember their days
Nine thousand you'll find
on that rock-strewn hillside
No carved tombstone
Just a rock
from the sandy dunes
A wall of stone
on all four sides
A rock-strewn hillside
inside
The sea incessantly
speaks from the shore
Strange
no rocks
outside the walls
just flower-clad sands
Rolling away
in every direction
down to the ocean
their ancient roadway
Living from the bounty
of the ever-present sea
it would exact its price
giving change - wreckage on the shore
Living in penury
but happily
demure hamlets
strung out to the north
Poor ground prompted
a move inland for summer
gathering fuel
before the storms came
Unknown were the riches
in money and goods
Riches in happiness and
the strength of kinship
Only a rock
remains within walls
a mark of ending
to remember their days
Nine thousand you'll find
on that rock-strewn hillside
No carved tombstone
Just a rock
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Thursday 1 November
A cold day, in spite of the 8C / 46F on the thermometer, the bitterness being caused by a strong easterly breeze. It grew even less pleasant when we lost the sun in the afternoon to showers. I was glad to have taken the woolly hat and gloves out, even for the short walk to the shop and into town. Was that haircut such a good idea? Nggg, that hair in my face was driving me batchy.
Western Isles Council has put proposals out for consultation that would result in service cuts amounting to £5.7 million. The details of the proposals are breathtaking; I had a look at a six-page document outlining them all, and it is absolutely horrendous. It begs the question what we have a council for if it isn't doing anything for the local people anymore. OK, that's an overreaction, but it is very bad news.
Western Isles Council has put proposals out for consultation that would result in service cuts amounting to £5.7 million. The details of the proposals are breathtaking; I had a look at a six-page document outlining them all, and it is absolutely horrendous. It begs the question what we have a council for if it isn't doing anything for the local people anymore. OK, that's an overreaction, but it is very bad news.
Chessmen?
Village by the sand
hiding the ninety-one
pieces carved from ivory
brought in from across the sea
Men from the north
left them for us to guess
their play with the future
after they had gone from these shores
Leaving behind only names
for the villages along the shores
the hills, bays and inlets
no further trace was left
Except the ninety-one
in the sand by the village
along the bay that named a whole district
Were they chessmen?
hiding the ninety-one
pieces carved from ivory
brought in from across the sea
Men from the north
left them for us to guess
their play with the future
after they had gone from these shores
Leaving behind only names
for the villages along the shores
the hills, bays and inlets
no further trace was left
Except the ninety-one
in the sand by the village
along the bay that named a whole district
Were they chessmen?
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Wednesday 31 October
Hope you have all had (or having) a nice Hallowe'en today. As my previous post indicates, to me, it has a rather more sombre connotation, but I have said enough on the subject. I continue to be horrified at the extent of the damage and loss of life left behind as a result of Sandy. The storm system has dissipated over the Great Lakes, and its after-effects are diminishing. Tropical cyclone Nilam has slammed into southeastern India with winds at severe gale force and heavy rain.
Today in Stornoway saw cool weather, but with nice sunny spells. As I type this, the decrescent moon has risen high in the eastern sky and the mercury has gone down to near zero. We should continue to have the same sort of weather over the next few days, so actually, little reason for complaint.
Locally, there is an on-going discussion about the price of fuel ($9 a US gallon, or £1.50 a litre). Allegations have been levelled against one wholesaler about price-fixing, profiteering and monopoies - refuted by said wholesaler. The price difference with Inverness (15p) remains noticeable, and one wonders about that.
Today in Stornoway saw cool weather, but with nice sunny spells. As I type this, the decrescent moon has risen high in the eastern sky and the mercury has gone down to near zero. We should continue to have the same sort of weather over the next few days, so actually, little reason for complaint.
Locally, there is an on-going discussion about the price of fuel ($9 a US gallon, or £1.50 a litre). Allegations have been levelled against one wholesaler about price-fixing, profiteering and monopoies - refuted by said wholesaler. The price difference with Inverness (15p) remains noticeable, and one wonders about that.
Hallowe'en 2012
Reposted from 2010
Hallowe'en is not a tradition I grew up with, and I've only grown more familiar with it since I came to the UK, 15 years ago this month. It is a relatively inoccuous event, although I resent, like the gentleman in the pic above, the abuse of black cats just because they have black fur.
I'll just stick to the black cat as depicted in this graphic. My family had a black tomcat for 15 years in the 1970s and 1980s, and he was the friendliest creature you could care to find. Other cats, around at the time, would agree or disagree with that vehemently; other toms would get a sound thrashing out of him, whilst the females of the species got all they ever wanted out of him and more.
Donna provided me with this graphic 5 years ago, and I'm glad to see she's slowly getting back in the habit. She was also behind this graphic
which had us trick-or-treating through J-land, meaning this image is at least 4 years old. I had two Hallowe'ens in J-land (2006 and 2007); J-land was closed down on Hallowe'en 2008. I was sitting in an airport lounge at Aberdeen when news came through that our blogs had gone. I've never understood why they had to be deleted, rather than being kept in an archived status. It caused a lot of upset, and I've not forgiven AOL for it.Hallowe'en has a serious side to it. Its full name is All Hallows' Eve, the day before All Hallows, when we remember those that have passed away. 1 November will be the day, 4½ years ago, that my mother passed away, and I'll bear that in mind on the day. Others who have recently lost loved ones or friends will be kept in mind on that day. November is also the month that I post the links to journals whose bloggers have gone before, and I'm closing this admittedly sombre post with that.
In remembering those that went before us, we will gain strength from their memory and the fortitude they showed in adversity.
One Girl's Head Noise (UK) - Pam, RIP 16 April 2006
There are no Sundays - Jim, RIP April 2007
The Diatom Project - Walt, RIP 27 April 2007
Pennie's Pieces of Ohio - Penny, RIP 1 October 2007
My Reason for Reasoning - Barbara, RIP 20 November 2007
Lahoma's Laments - Lahoma, RIP 25 December 2007
I shaved my legs for this??? - Kim, RIP 26 December 2007
Sylvia Boiling, RIP 2 May 2008
Dribble by Chuck Ferris - Chuck, RIP 1 July 2008
Lori's Love Tribe - Lori, RIP 22 November 2009
Just Plain Bill, Bill, RIP 28 November 2010
A journey of another kind, Jane, RIP 30 May 2010
Daria, RIP 22 January 2011
Angie Marshall, RIP 30 January 2011
Lori Johnson, RIP 16 February 2011
Rebecca Robertson, formerly as Journeyzpath (Summer 2011)
Say it Baldy, Sam Shafer, RIP 29 June 2011
Gypsypaths, Carol Martinez, RIP 28 September 2011
Larry Wayland (moondawg), 2 December 2011
Frances Lawson, RIP 28 March 2012
Dad's Tomato Garden, Ray White, RIP 9 May 2012
Andy, RIP 15 September 2012
Sandy
I know several ladies, some of whom I have met in person, who have the first name Alexandra, in certain instances abbreviated to Sandy. It has been common practice to name tropical cyclones (hurricanes), and the storm that hit the eastern USA on Monday was named Sandy. Now, I have made it clear in the past that I tend to look at hurricanes as a natural phenomenon, depersonalised and not malicious. Referring to Sandy as a "monster" storm is something I scorn at. But seeing the effects on television, I can certainly understand the emotions that underpin such descriptions.
The storm surge flooding in New York City has brought the place to a virtual standstill, exacerbated by the fire in the borough of Queens that could not be combated because of flooding. The water can be pumped away, for sure. Damage can be repaired, although there will be many people who will find it hard if not impossible to locate the funds to do that.
I was taken aback by the result of the flooding in New Jersey, which did not just leave water but feet and feet of sand in the streets and around houses. The electricity outages here are likely to last for some days yet, and will make life very difficult for those still in situ. Many have been evacuated, and will not be able to return home for a while yet - if they have a home to return to.
I am quite disgusted with the politicking that has promptly resumed on Facebook, and negative at that. If you support a candidate, please just extol his virtues rather than downcry the opponent. In slamming the opposition you waste time you could spend more constructively supporting your candidate. Unless he does not have anything that is worth highlighting. And it's not even certain that there will be an election on November 6th, bearing in mind the disruption caused by Sandy.
The storm surge flooding in New York City has brought the place to a virtual standstill, exacerbated by the fire in the borough of Queens that could not be combated because of flooding. The water can be pumped away, for sure. Damage can be repaired, although there will be many people who will find it hard if not impossible to locate the funds to do that.
I was taken aback by the result of the flooding in New Jersey, which did not just leave water but feet and feet of sand in the streets and around houses. The electricity outages here are likely to last for some days yet, and will make life very difficult for those still in situ. Many have been evacuated, and will not be able to return home for a while yet - if they have a home to return to.
I am quite disgusted with the politicking that has promptly resumed on Facebook, and negative at that. If you support a candidate, please just extol his virtues rather than downcry the opponent. In slamming the opposition you waste time you could spend more constructively supporting your candidate. Unless he does not have anything that is worth highlighting. And it's not even certain that there will be an election on November 6th, bearing in mind the disruption caused by Sandy.
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
The circle of peat
Distant summers
Forgotten breezes
Rains long since flowed to sea
The autumns of years
Green growth
Long grass
First yellow
Now brown
Moss capturing moisture
Deepening below
Cracks open in drought
Disappear in wet seasons
The memory of years
cut with the spade
dried over weeks
as the sun rises high
Stacked by the house
prepared for winter
to release warmth
when the cold wind blows
Smelling of springtime
smoke drifts away
the cycle completes
the circle of peat
Forgotten breezes
Rains long since flowed to sea
The autumns of years
Green growth
Long grass
First yellow
Now brown
Moss capturing moisture
Deepening below
Cracks open in drought
Disappear in wet seasons
The memory of years
cut with the spade
dried over weeks
as the sun rises high
Stacked by the house
prepared for winter
to release warmth
when the cold wind blows
Smelling of springtime
smoke drifts away
the cycle completes
the circle of peat
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