The scent of peat rises
to the rafters, settles in my hair.
Lift a strand from my neck,
fasten it with a Pictish brooch,
golden as the penannular moon.
Stoke the fire with evening,
surround me like a shawl.
Lull to bliss by the tune
of burning dreams;
we sing so quietly at the end.
Mainland and island tie,
become an endless wonderwall,
grow pregnant with India;
the brain-child of all points east,
the touching tongues of our roots.
tk/September 2013
Thanks to R.A.D. Stainforth, for bringing my words to life.
Join Magpie Tales creative writing group.
Join Magpie Tales creative writing group.
...'grow pregnant with India'... &... 'the touching tongues of our roots' --- these are striking lines for me... too many to adore in this well-crafted piece, Tess! ...& as always, Mr. R.A.D. is a treat to ears.... smiles...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kelvin...yes, he certainly is...
Delete'the tune of burning dreams'.....wow Tess really loved all of Tombolo but esp that line....Kay x
ReplyDeleteYour poetry this morning feels mystical, surrounded by a mist, otherworldly. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteFrom the land of the Picts - beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSt. Ninian's feast day is tomorrow, Sept 16. Just read that :)
ReplyDeleteOh! Lovely synchronicity! I'm psychic you know...
DeleteI have no doubt of it. :D*
DeleteExquisite imagery.
ReplyDeleteTombolo. Ah, thanks for clarifying. And all these years I thought it was Italian for tomboy. Now I need to look up penannular.
ReplyDeleteThat made me giggle.
DeleteI second Mama Zen's comment. Exquisite indeed.
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
I just love the lines:
ReplyDeleteLull to bliss by the tune
of burning dreams;
we sing so quietly at the end.
Preganant indeed. It does have an umbilical look to it.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful, Madame Pictish squaw.....
ReplyDeleteThe aroma of peat is overpowering. Heightens psychic powers:)
ReplyDeletelike Kelvin said - each line is a masterpiece and i am not sure i can pick just one ...beautiful
ReplyDeleteThere's beautiful imagery in your poem, Tess. I especially like "stoke the fire with evening".
ReplyDeleteTess, I had not read yours prior to using a language "Thracian".
ReplyDeleteI did not listen to the spoke...it is always SO beautiful. But do ya know, I can "hear" his vocalization, just as any musician's ears will do. It is FUN.
Thanks for opportunity to share my own.
I so agree...R.A.D.'s velvety voice is music to the ears...always a treat to see you at Magpie, Steve...
DeleteSuperb historical imagery!
ReplyDeletei love this. the last stanza summed it up beautifully!
ReplyDeleteListening to this I feel the gentle calm of my own family's roots pulling us deeper, together.
ReplyDeleteStroke the fire with evening, surround me like a shawl.... (such a lovely thought)
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful, Tess!
The second stanza is perfection!
Mysterious to the end..just the way I like it!
ReplyDeleteGreat images!
ReplyDelete