I came at last up to the place of stone,
Just at the very turning of the year,
And stood amongst the megaliths alone
To face the raging sunset – and my fear.
I poured, upon the altar, blood and wine
- A feeble sacrifice to unknown things –
I burned her pretty likeness, then burned mine,
And listened for the beat of heavy wings.
I heard the gale, I heard a kestrel cry,
I saw the bulrush flattened by the wind.
I watched the sun’s last flicker in the sky,
And bowed my head. I knew that I had sinned.
For there, at Callanish, I learned at last
My days of mortal happiness had passed.
Author notes
Written June 14th, 2006
In a list
- The wraith's complaining mouth • next in list
- Sonnets, sonnets, and more bloody sonnets • next in list
- Scotland • next in list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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I have yet to see you speechless. I hope I never do.
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Don't we all prostrate oursevles upon mortal stones everyday
and pray and pay for the sins we live with. I know I do..
that's why I have so many bruises....So watch me now, as I bow
down upon the alter of your genius, while absorbing this poem... Oww. Oww. Oww.
that's me, bowing...You've done another one that's almost
left me speecless....
lapoe...
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Thanks Merc.
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excellent
A haunting and solemn sonnet, and another very well-crafted and incantatory poem. Excellent!
Mercury Rising -
Very glad you liked it, Michael.
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Oh, quite excellent, quite excellent, indeed! Loved it!
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{nods at her shiny sister's words - can find no reply}
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A sin burned is a sin doubled, as the saying goes, Melodies.
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Ah, yes! It's the old making deals with the Gods therapy. Lord knows, I've tried to make plenty of those deals in my lifetime! In fact, I've done it so much that I was right in tune with you from the very beginning of this great work. If it can be said that this kind of sadness makes for a beautiful poem, it is beautiful because you wrote it.
Shiny Sister
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The sin you burn is shared by all
for sharing sin is what we do
and in that sharing we learn best
that compassion is life's holy test.
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