Poetry Bus Poem - Connections

This week's poetry bus theme from http://sciencegirltraveler.blogspot.com/2011/01/poetry-bus-for-january.html asked us to write about something you like that other people don’t like. Or you’re afraid they don’t like it. Or you think they think you’re strange for liking it.

When I read this, I knew immediately the one thing that I would write about, which falls into the category of something you like but others might not, or think strange or weird or all that stuff that we all worry about.  Anyhow, it goes back to my early days of motherhood, that mad crazy time when so much takes you by surprise,  but I had such a draw to the smell of each of my babies, so think me strange, but the truth be out.  

Connections

They are all grown up,

all three of them.

It seems so long ago now,

but I still remember them small,

squashed up little people,

tiny hands that gripped my fingers,

trusting eyes that never questioned,

a primal bond that followed from the womb,

pulsating through every part of me,

like a lioness protecting her own,

and breathing in the smell of them,

back to a time before language,

a ancient bond that never falters,

the sense of you and them and yours,

to watch and keep close,

until the end of time.

Walking/Photo Journal - Tips of forest on Mountpelier Hill

From the top of the hill, the forest peeks up to the blue sky at the Piperstown Gap.

Walking/Photo Journal - Icicles Mountain Stream

I love the look and sound of water, there is something tremendously energising about it.

  But it was a cold walk this morning, as the icicles below on this mountain stream can testify.

Thought for the Weekend - Anonymous

'If you want to be something, you have to do something.'

- Anonymous

Walking/Photo Journal - Bohernabreena Road - The Real Story

The Bohernabreena Road or as it was originally known 'Bóthar na Bruineas' or it's english translation 'the road to the hostel', is believed to be the road to one of the most famous houses of hospitality, the site of Da Dearga's hostel.  The destruction of Da Deargas hostel has become one of the local myths.

 



The Hostel Under Attack

(Extract from Myths and Legends of South County Dublin)

During the reign of Conaire, peace and prosperity reigned: however, that was soon to come to an end. His fostersons, the sons of Donn Deasa, formed a robber band that stole pigs and cattle. They did this to see what harm they could do the king and what punishment he would mete out to them. They then got Conaire's sons to join them. All of them were captured and brought before Conaire who banished them, and they were forced to leave Ireland.
While in exile they met Ingsel the One-eyed, who was also in exile. Ingcel Caech was the son of the Britons. Ingcel listened with great interest to the foster brothers of Conaire Mor when they talked of Ireland: and he saw in that land a great prize of riches.
He asked the brothers help in raiding Ireland. They gathered together an army and landed on the Dublin coast near Howth.


At the same time Conaire had gone to the south of Ireland to settle a dispute. On his way back to Tara he decided to rest for the night. He visited his old friend, Da Dearga, at his hostel in Glenasmole: Da Dearga received him with great festivities.
The hostel lay so that the Dodder flowed through it. There were several doorways in it but only one door. This was placed in whichever doorway the wind blew upon Da Dearga.
Ingcel and his followers kept watch on the hostel. They realised that Conaire was inside. The Hostel was full of warriors, musicians playing and jugglers doing wonderful feats; and Da Dearga with his servants giving out food and wine. Ingcel then marched to the attack and surrounded the hostel.
The great struggle began. The Hostel was set on fire, but the fire was put out. Conaire and his men sallied forth - hundreds were killed. Once again the enemy attacked, the Hostel was once again set alight. Three times the Hostel was set on fire and three times the flames were put out using the waters of the Dodder and all the wine in the house.
Ingcel asked one of his Druids to cast a spell on Conaire. The druid makes Conaire very thirsty. Conaire has done a lot of fighting but he can fight no more till he gets a drink. He begged for water, but it is all gone putting out the fire.
One of his servants, Mac Cecht, leaves to seek out water for his king. Mac Cecht travelled all over Ireland looking for water, while the battle raged on, and Conaire was still dying of thirst. At last Mac Cecht finds a lake, Loch Gara in Roscommon, where he fills the King's golden cup.
When he returned to the hostel, he found the defenders all dead or fled, and two of the attackers cutting of Conaire's head. He killed them and poured water into Conaire's headless neck.
The severed head thanked him for his good deed and then died. The hostel was destroyed.

(Gives dying for a drink a whole new meaning!)

BUT THE ROAD IS STILL THERE AND THE OFTEN HEADLESS 120 SOCKS GOT UP AND DOWN IT TODAY!!

Book Club - In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje

This month's 'In the Skin of a Lion' by Michael Ondaatje is the latest book to fall victim for review.  Reviews will hopefully be posted next week.

In 1920 Patrick Lewis arrives in the bustling city of Toronto, leaving behind his Canadian wilderness home.  He immerses himself in the lives of the people who surround him, learning, from their stories, the history of the city itself.  And he had his own adventures: searching for a missing millionaire, tunnelling beneath Lake Ontario, falling in love.

In the Skin of a Lion is Michael Ondaatje's predecessor to his Booker Prize-winning, The English Patient.  It is in it that we encounter for the first time, Hana the orphaned girl and Caravaggio the thief, among a large cast of characters. 

'Ondaatje writes in curves, in time-lapses, a sort of verbal cinema whose narrative is unfaltering' The Times

If you have read this book and want to say a few words on it, please post a comment. Thanks

Walking/Photo Journal - Early Morning Frost Piperstown

Early morning frost Piperstown.  Who can control the impulse to write at times?

Frost Piperstown

Early morning frost underfoot,

you can smell the land,

ground twists of turf and moss-coated rock,

pulsating from this jagged place.

Like a seasoned seductress,

leisurely undressing by the light of day,

and always the bird song,

falling like drops of rain.

Walking/Photo Journal - Night & Day Dublin Mountains

Apart from the beauty of the landscape through the seasons, the shades that are created over the Dublin Mountains never cease to amaze me, from powder pinks to indigo blues!

 Pic from later yesterday on the Bohernabreena Road.

Walking/Photo Journal - Roadway to Glenasmole Valley

New Idea for 2011

Some of you might know that I enjoy walking, so now that we're no longer under four feet of snow up here in the Dublin Mountains, I got an idea.

For what it's worth, I plan to take an image each day while I am out and about and maybe bring some of the beauty and history of the place where I live to life!

So here we begin. The sun was out today, and so was I.  Below is one of the small tracks off the main mountain road which leads down to the Glenasmole Valley.  And what better way to kick start this new adventure than to include a poem by John Lee a native of Glenasmole.

John could write a poem in couple of days or a couple of weeks depending on the length (nothing to you Poetry Bus Riders!).  He lived in Glenasmole his whole life, and died in 1982 aged 76.





Glenasmole

In dear old Ireland is a valley,

Away up in the Dublin hills,

and as for beauty none can compare,

with it's heather clad mountains and flowing rills,

and in the evening when work is over,

how pleasant 'tis to take a stroll,

and bathe your eyes on the lovely scenes,

that surround the valley of Glenasmole.

There is an air of peace in this humble valley

you will match it where 'er you go,

I am certain it can compare with

'Green Killarney' or to 'Fair Dungloe',

it's people too they are kind and cheerful,

they work with zeal to achieve their goal,

You may sing the praises of far off places,

my choice will ever be Glenasmole.

- JOHN LEE -

Leaf Books - Writing Collaboration Competition

This might be of interest to some of you, especially if you are already part of a group of writers, or have worked with others on pieces before -

 Have you ever produced, or would you like to produce, a piece of writing with another person? Leaf is seeking collaborations – between two or more writers, writer and artist/printmaker/illustrator, photographer and poet, or any other kind of collaboration you’ve taken part in. You’re welcome to embark on a brand new piece or to submit an extract from a previous project. Pieces of writing should be no longer than 1000 words each.

Prizes: £150 first prize plus publication in the Leaf Writers’ Magazine. Further successful entries may be published in the magazine. Published authors will also receive a free copy of the magazine.
You can enter online or by post: if you enter by post and would like your piece returned to you, please provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Entry fee: £3 per entry, 4 entries for £10.
Please include both/all of the authors’ names on your entry form.

Closing date: 28th Feb 2011

Full details of all competitions, including competition guidelines, are available here. See the competitions page on our website for full details of all current competitions and to enter online.
Contacting Leaf Books

Email: contact@leafbooks.co.uk
Post: Leaf Books, GTi Suite, Ty Menter, Abercynon, Rhondda Cynon Taff CF45 4SNhttp://www.leafbooks.co.uk
A member of the GTi Business Network.