Second poem in Scotland cycle september 07
(On visiting the Ballachulish slate-quarry, long disused)
Silence broken
by the rush of water
on the refused slate
tumbling down
the disused quarry side
The slate
the massive fallen
slabs of one time mud
slowly being reclaimed
by brambles,
the blueish veins of rock
contrasting the russet tinges
on September greens
The soft ripeness
of the plump blackberries
so utterly other
than the dust
of stone
on ancient palates
Almost a solomonic wisdom
now prevails
the slate-hewn life
is all but gone
but through the bramble,
shiny soft but full of thorn
the contrapoint
of life goes on
The rock will meet
the slow refraction
of wind and water
time and time again,
the humble bramble roots
will find their way
into the cleaving lines
and split the rock
and supply savour
to the curious among you
Stick out your tongue
against the industrious past
If you must
but have it regaled
by the juice of the king of berries
the sap of the stone
the forgotten tears of the
men of the mine.
Poetry by Teddy Donobauer
Read 536 times
Written on 2007-09-28 at 17:56
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The Bramble and The Slate
The bramble and the slate(On visiting the Ballachulish slate-quarry, long disused)
Silence broken
by the rush of water
on the refused slate
tumbling down
the disused quarry side
The slate
the massive fallen
slabs of one time mud
slowly being reclaimed
by brambles,
the blueish veins of rock
contrasting the russet tinges
on September greens
The soft ripeness
of the plump blackberries
so utterly other
than the dust
of stone
on ancient palates
Almost a solomonic wisdom
now prevails
the slate-hewn life
is all but gone
but through the bramble,
shiny soft but full of thorn
the contrapoint
of life goes on
The rock will meet
the slow refraction
of wind and water
time and time again,
the humble bramble roots
will find their way
into the cleaving lines
and split the rock
and supply savour
to the curious among you
Stick out your tongue
against the industrious past
If you must
but have it regaled
by the juice of the king of berries
the sap of the stone
the forgotten tears of the
men of the mine.
Poetry by Teddy Donobauer
Read 536 times
Written on 2007-09-28 at 17:56
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
