Poetry has proved very popular. The excavations at the quoit were often accompanied by poetry readings over lunch, some more serious than others!
A Giant Leap
A tumbled heap of lichened stones
A fallen cromlech on the ground
Earth scattered – its dissembled bones
Lie silent and mysterious
In ancient times this lonely place
Was once a mighty focus where
The hallowed rites of sacred space
Honoured the earth as glorious
Now wasteland, here the stones remain
Though fallen - still their secrets hold
Patient they wait, their power contained
To rise once more, victorious
Faint on the wind a phantom child
Calls from the past with wistful voice
Grieving the wisdom of a wild
Land once free and bounteous
Whispering of long forgotten days
When nature 's rhythmic ebb and flow
Shaped well the lore of human ways
And thus sustained prosperity
Heeding the call at turning tide
And with a giant leap of faith
Men, women, children, side by side
United in community
To raise the cromlech back on high
And seed the land with tree and flower
The stones placed poised against the sky
Restored for all eternity
Then on the wind new voices soared
Chanting aloud a hymn of hope
Singing the leys alive once more
Rejoicing and harmonious
Brenda Desborough 2001
During our archaeological week at Troon Primary School Gary Matthews held a poetry writing workshop with 10 year olds.
We are collaborating with 'Tallys an Tir – Traditions & Stories of the Land'