all of a sudden
the lane dropped
from the windy boggy plateau
of cotton grass, heather, bilberry and moss
down
into an unknown wooded vale
trees gained height
above fuschia
hung five tendrils deep
the delicate blood drops
swaying
in the last vestige of a breeze
reeds and ferns rose
from the turbulent stream
as two joyous magpies
barked their welcome
I was told there was
a shrine
beside a bridge
next a crossroads
in this valley of Glenree
a place of old devotion
still tended, tendered, tender
blue star of the sea
in this lonely mountain glen
far from Atlantic wave
warmed by a silent congregation

as I walked back
a skylark
was teaching
her young
to fly

06/27/2008