It’s all around the dandelion clock
the maddened curlews pour their liquid notes
upon the sleepless ear, and slyly mock
the folk who lie in bed; the cloying motes
of grass-seed hang upon the subtle breath
of midnight zephyrs, while horizons gleam
where day will resurrect before its death,
and night and stars are nothing but a dream.
Sweet rocket fills the hedge along the path,
and narrows it with purple, bobbing mist;
and see – in amber, half-day light the rath
by dancing shadow-shapes of wraiths is kissed…
But here upon the Hill where Stones fan out
above the rash of crops and leaves below,
we all are drawn unto the elder rout –
so blow your bugle – let the Wild Hunt go!
O Summer, Summer Midnight, let us rush
with hart, and hind, and hare, into the field,
and with our pounding pulses break the hush
of silent steadings, waking things concealed
till Panic-time; the rolling of the drum,
our footfalls on the grass, our eyes at last
are blazing and insane – the Hunt has come!
And fled away; Midsummer’s wake has passed.
Author notes
The Hill O' Many Stanes is in Caithness, Scotland, and is a neolithic complex.
A rath is a circular earthwork. It is actually an Irish word, and is rare but not unknown in Scotland.
A steading is a group of farm buildings.
In a list
- Bookmarked Beauties • next in list
- The wraith's complaining mouth • next in list
- Scotland • next in list
A contest entry
- Rhyme and Flow part 1 Summertime - 50,000 points series by cricketjeff.
8000 points, ended May 16, 53 entries
Honorable winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Summer Solstice/Litha/Midsummer by Luna Tique Fringe.
1800 points, ended June 26, 10 entries
Honorable winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 52 of 52
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I love the language you have used in this piece, its fair made my pagan heart pulse each time I have read it.
Simply awesome Mairi
Jem xxxxx
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Wonderful writing! I really enjoyed this one.
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I'm glad.
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This is excellent, the rhyme is wonderful. I thank you for entering.
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Mairi, a wonderful poem and a joy to read. I just wish we could have had eight shiny gold cups to give out, but alas, not.
Thank you for entering ...Sue
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{chuckling}
Why is everyone saying they wish they could have given this a trophy?
It's ok - I have so many, I can give a few away.
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I so wanted to give this the gold, I loved every word. But then you don't write poetry I don't love.
Rhyme to die for flow better and an education, I just have to say
Not Bad!!!
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You should have forced yourself.
It wiz jist BEGGIN' for a place in ma "wee yellow vases" list, and YOU went an' spilet that!
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Incredible write! Thanks for penning this!
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I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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You're certainly doing your bit for the Scottish tourist board here! I remember camping in Caithness as a child at midsummer, and the sun just dipped below the horizon for a wee while, then seemed to change its mind and come up again. Then again, I was in Orkney last June and it wasn't really very summery at all. But still very beautiful. You've captured the beauty of it all - even if it isn't always like this - that's one of the pleasures of living here really, isn't it? Look out for the crowds of poetic tourists. (you didn't mention the midgies)
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(They can learn about the midgies first hand )
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Sweet romanitic embracing of a summer's night. Glorious in its scope and profound in expression. I absolutely love this. Brings to mind druidic rites round stonehenge's mythic spires.
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Well, I have written about Stonehenge too, as it happens. The Hill O' Many Stanes is quite modest by comparison - I think you would be more likely to trip over one of the stones than bump into it. I am glad you like the poem.
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This is classic poetry all the way. This is indeed what poetry is all about. The Iamagery was a master piece.
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Thank you.
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I like this a lot. Lovely, calm imagery gives way to pulse-pounding pace. Well done, poet.
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Thanks - just what I was aiming for.
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wow..
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I guess that is mighty praise from a person called "taciturn".
Thank you. Very glad you liked it.
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these didn't stick
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This is a beautiful poem, and evokes the midsummer nights when the light never quite leaves the sky, and The Wild Hunt rides - pagan, proud and powerful! The Standing Stones are evocative remnants of old ways of worship, living again in the strange other-worldly time of Midsummer's Eve, when the barriers between the worlds may loosen, and allow passage between.
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This puts me in mind of my two trips to lovely Scotland, particularly when I visited the Cairn of Clava and the Orkneys. Both places spoke to my heart for their unique beauty and how deep they made me feel - this poem does too, I am bookmarking and so glad you were featured!
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Well the setting for this poem is not too far from the Orkneys, in an area that shares a Viking history and dialect retentions. I have never visited the Clava Cairns (yet) but I shall one day, I am sure..
Thank you for your appreciation.
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Really? I will have to go back, I loved my time there. My folks lived in Inverness for 2 years so I was very lucky to get to visit and travel with them while there
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Just checked them on the map - they are round the corner from Drumossie Moor, and the site of the Battle of Culloden. I will have to see if I can get to them this summer.
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Wonderful!
Mairi for a moment I thought I was in the old poets section this is so beautifully written. I bow to your pen. Good luck to you in this contest for this golden entry.
Paul
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Is that a coded way of telling me it's old-fashioned?
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(a small voice tells me to tread lightly here)
Answer: Yes, in the most positive interpretation - beautifully and wonderfully old fashioned.
Paul -
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Och away! I'm teasing.
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A beautiful piece and a joy to have read
Excellent i have nothing more to add
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It was a joy to write, too.
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This is the kind of poem that teaches me so much. You seem to pen your way into my heart with the most amazing verses. This is beautiful in every way as is the author.
Love,
Amera
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I sat around, uninspired, for two days, Sis - and then this kinda happened!
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Stunning - you write with the mood to mind through each stanza, captivating and written so beautifully.
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Thank you.
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This is great, mairi - much enjoyed.
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Glad you liked it
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Wonderful.
'steading'. Hence 'homestead'? We have these in Australia on cattle stations.
Midsummer madness controlled for visible spirits of neolithic times.
Fine poetic touches throughout this carefree but formal rhyme:
"hart, and hind, and hare": alliteration in the breath-taking aitches to the magic number of three.
The heather comes and goes: "Sweet rocket fills the hedge along the path,
and narrows it with purple, bobbing mist; ".
I love rocket and always use it in my salads.
Your persona leads the midnight charge of the Hunt Brigade boisterously and well: "so blow your bugle – let the Wild Hunt go!
O Summer, Summer Midnight, let us rush ". Fine apostrophe of address.
There is a metaphysical paradox adorning the poem:
"where day will resurrect before its death,
and night and stars are nothing but a dream". Mystery. Ah, sweet mystery of life and death.
I feel you have written a very accessible, fresh and delightful set of two stanzas of six lots of alternate rhyming lines; well-interlocked. Two stanzas: setting and action.
This poem is golden. Love, Ron.
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Thank you, Ron.
"Steading" is a common word here in Scotland, for a farmhouse and surrounding building. Up in Caithness (where the poem is set) there are many place-names ending in "bster" ("bister" further north on the islands of Orkney) which comes from a Viking word "bolstadr", with a shared etymology, though stead, homestead, and steading are continental-germanic I would say.
I honestly don't know whether the wildflower sweet rocket is actually related to the salad rocket, but you'd think so!
The metaphysical nature of the line you cite is rooted in a simple fact: Caithness is so far north that at mid-summer, it hardly grows dark before it begins to get light again.
I am very glad you like the poem.
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Helluva poem, our Mairi! Powerful, poetic and pagan.
Great work,
Bill
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Thanks, Bill.
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This is a beautiful poem, but I tell you that everytime you comment. I can't say I hope you win or I would have to say the same about Amera's poems that are in the same contest. I am trying to write something good enough that rhymes. I haven't been to Scotland, I think I should jump on a train!
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This little country would take you a lifetime to explore. There is so much beyond the shortbread-tin picture.
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As long as there is shortbread as well as the rest!
I have just written about clotted cream on scones and some shortbread to go with the cup of tea afterwards would be pure heaven.
Oh and some good scenery would help.
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this is certainly one of the best writes I have ever read on Ap, infact ever read overall...
brilliant!
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Thank you for the accolade.
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I consider you to be the very best female poet I've ever read at AP and this is why...once again, your talent renders me speechless! Excellent indeed!
Laura x
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Thank you, La. Let's hope the contest judge shares your enthusiasm.
Now then, does your comment mean I have a man to beat? If so, who? I might have to raise my game!
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ecrivain01...but you and him write so very differently and have your own uniqueness that can't be matched
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No contest!
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