Passing Iona.

A landscape painting.

Water moving

Catching singing lines.

Light cutting into a clear white sky.

Falling.

Breaking into the sight of time leaving clear spindrift in the paradise of empty places

 

Seal catching the

Skirling music and

Arcs of liquid in

Crystal moments formed in waves

Sculpted in an age of giants.

And a history of

Silver slow falls.

Mirrored in the

Deep caverns

of haunted submerged holes

and abandoned petrified trees.

Tumbling and flashing colour from feather, air and sky

 

Rocks cracked and

Far mountains seen whole,

That part proscenium mists

to climb

into slant angled rain

and the orchestral voices

echoing

in the hearing of God.

Crystal holy places high in the mind of the world

 

Waves speak personally and

Stuttered headlands pass

Opinions on the views seen.

Waves and growing rock beneath the skin of the land

 

With the glory that is sunlight

Silver shining on an island sea.

The graves of Kings that are

Held in the wishes of an Irish saint

Illuminated with mysteries

And the stone churches of faith

 

Captured

With water baptised

And blood rinsed

Shining stone in the places of the ancient

Built and written

on beaches of virgin mantle white crushed shell

And the dragged keels of

raiders into summer history.

The Saints and ravens that cry into a bright and sparkling sky

 

The painted illuminations of faith alone

Are the will of saints standing

On the edge of the world

And reaching into the legends

That Rome disbelieved

An island holding a

Summer smooth day

Passed with

Crisp sea and brightness

White and candle lit chapels

Fire caves made by giants

And overtures played

falling down to the inland sea

of ancient and personal history.

Giving of your life to a speck of dust lost in sanctified tracks

 

All seen with the final memory eyes

 of a long dead friend.

Abandoned to the glory of your personal infinite

Whoever and whatever He may be.

 

Author's Note

Iona is the island off the coast of W Scotland where Christianity was brought to Britian by Columba in 563. The beautiful ilustrated Book of Kells was reputedly produced here. Many Scottish and Scandanavian kings are buried here, including Macbeth.
The monastery was subject to many Viking raids and at least one massacre.
The photograph is mine and is called Whoopers. It was taken in the Hebrides, W Scotland. The famous Fingals cave is just north of here.
To review Chris's lovely poem go here, http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Ancient117331/1188281/

Reviews

[Rahul]

Your writings're so smooth... i feel so relax reading your stuffs... it seemed you're a professional writer.
Nice write dear frnd. you've a great talent... you should have to publish your own magazine in market... what ya think !
nice flow of ink once again....
take care...

[Ken Simm.]

So nice of you to say these things my friend. I am flattered.

[Mehak Mushtaq]

Wow, just astounding. So soothing and I love the format. Excellent job done here.

[Ken Simm.]

I am honoured you like it. Thank you so much.

[h d e rushin]

"The painted illuminations of faith alone
are the will of saints standing on the edge of the world"

I don't travel much anymore. I own an old Honda Accord 99. Don't do airplanes and trains and busses
make my legs swell up. But the pictures you paint Ken make me want to visit these magical places.
Die Fingalshohle, by Felix Mendellssohn, now it all takes shape. Thank you sir.
dana

[Ken Simm.]

Fingals cave on Staffa is just as amazing in its own way. In fact hermits from Iona loved here as well. Thank you so much Dana.

[Ken Simm.]

I meant lived but hey ho that works as well.

[Stella Armour]

i have never had the pleasure of visiting Iona , but my bil was a minister and his ashes are scattered there. I feel i know Iona better now through your words..thank you

[Ken Simm.]

The legend says if you go once, you will go three times. I hope you get the chance. It is a magical place. Thank you so much Stella.

[Stella Armour]

You are welcome Ken

[Ken Simm.]

Your Brother in law(?) is in good company including Macbeth, Duncan and many other famous Scottish and Scandanavian Kings. And of course John Smith. I wrote about when my time comes in Sky Burial.

[Stella Armour]

will read it now Ken..

[TL Boehm]

orchestral voices

echoing

in the hearing of God.

Crystal holy places high in the mind of the world



Waves speak personally and

Stuttered headlands pass

Opinions on the views seen.

Waves and growing rock beneath the skin of the land



With the glory that is sunlight
Wow. This thing talks to the memory spun in my DNA...Some things just draw the soul in.

[Ken Simm.]

What incredible things to say. You are too kind to me you know.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for the amazing tale. You gave strong poetry and you taught some history. Many places left to remind us of old war and people. I like to visit them. It is good to know location and the history of the place. I like the artwork. A beautiful place.
Coyote

[Ken Simm.]

THank you so much for looking in on this historical place my friend.

[emmajoy]

Iona is one of our world's special places. Its amazing and varied history and atmosphere does more than fill the mind and spirit. You describe a somewhere that almost exceeds understanding - and in your very special and colourful use of the English language. Reading again, i feel you belong there .. perhaps you do.

' Rocks cracked and ~ Far mountains seen whole, ~ That part proscenium mists ~ to climb ~ into slant angled rain ~ and the orchestral voices ~ echoing ~ in the hearing of God. Crystal holy places high in the mind of the world '

[Ken Simm.]

Iona is very special. It is an atmosphere place. You have been Emma? Perhaps I do belong there or near there. I did live on Mull for a time. Thank you so much for saying such wonderful things dear Emma.

[FJ Davis]

Intriguing subject; exquisite imagery; elegant craftsmanship.
Typically, exceptional! This exceptionalism has now, somewhat unfairly, come to be the reader's taken-for-granted expectation.
In other words, Ken, you're too good for your own good.

[Ken Simm.]

Never been that before. Thanks so much Frank. I try.

[Rita L. Sev]

This is truly beautiful. Such a vibrant portrait your words paint!

[Ken Simm.]

Thank you so much for looking and liking Rita.

[LJW]

Chris's poem? Is this not written by you?

Or are you Chris, Ken? Oh, I am so confused.

Help.

[Ken Simm.]

This was written by me Ken. Chris wrote a poem on his reaction to this when he read it which you can find by following the link. I am not Chris and Chris is not me. Thanks fo looking in.

[LJW]

Ok Ken. TY I am not always the sharpest tool in the shed.
This piece was beautifully written; intelligent and wonderfully descriptive.

The few lines in italics (?) at the end of each stanza....I strung these together and feel they make a poem even more appealing to me as the piece as a whole.

[Ken Simm.]

That was the intention. You are the first to do that. I tried for a poem within a poem there. Thank you so much for your lovely words.

[Ken Simm.]

You are indeed and I thank you for it once more.

[LJW]

I'm the first at something besides the dinner table! ?

WOO HOO!!