Megalithic Poems

close
more_vert
chris s C
chris s Sep 27, 2006 10:50:37
Replying to Littlestone

........hop this one hasn't made it up here yet, tis one bleddy long thread, tis !

THE MERRY MAIDENS


Near St. Buryan can be found
Nineteen stones. Two pillars
Of granite flank themon the ground
Like a pair of gaolers.

One sabbath evenineteen young maids
Instead of going to pray
Strayed into a field's furtive shades
Hearing two pipers play.

Despite the day the maids did dance
Faster and faster still
And whirled into a senseless trance
Caused by those men of ill.

Lightning out of the cloudless air
Unfleshed their tender bones
And turned them and the evil pair
Into a group of stones.


-- RONALD BOTTRALL 1906 - 1989
(from "The Dreamt Sea: an Anthology of Anglo-Cornish Poetry 1928-2004, Francis Boutle Press)

L Littlestone
Littlestone Sep 27, 2006 13:27:47
Replying to chris s

Thanks Chris! Great stuff, and duly added to stack.

Wish I could get into this thread and edit it but until that's possible have started sub-headings using the name of the poem or poet - hence the poem you posted now falls under the heading of The Merry Maidens. Will post it up on the Megalithic Poems blog once I've found a good pic to go with it.

C chris s
chris s Oct 1, 2006 16:32:59
Replying to chris s

About, of course, the Men Scryfa....

ALAN M.KENT (1967- )

THE ROAD TO RIALOBRAN

Find on your path from Morvah to Madron
Grave of Rialobran, Cunoval’s son

This is the translation of stone’s scroll
set up for the good of a royal soul

named The Raven, his father- Worthy Fame
set immortality and chiselled fame

of his son, who once ruled Carn Bran’s skyline
but now is watched by mute Greenbarrow mine.

At the start of the road to Rialobran
alone sits inscribed school-house, spick and span.

Plaque placed on in eighteen eighty two,
a late structure according to stone’s debut,

and though England’s past and poetry feature
stone’s name and words are untouched by teacher.

Latin/Cornish, like RAVEN, buried in earth,
killed young, not given life’s pennyworth.

Oh pilgrim of this sixth century tomb
consider the truth of culture’s heirloom:

a more fitting test of literature
heeds well the Raven mourners signature.

But the message isn’t carved or written.
instead, hidden history of Britain.

scratched on the road to Rialobran
true continuum is left without Kinsman,

such is the sweep of civilisation,
the poet comes to realisation

how while stone has stood as time’s icon,
two languages came, written, now are gone.
So like Cunovel, find hope dahed by Death’s logan
taken at the end of the road to Rialobran.

But dear Cunovel, at son’s setting, do not cry.
A thousand years on, we’ve unearthed the reason why.

C chris s
chris s Oct 1, 2006 16:33:04
Replying to chris s

About, of course, the Men Scryfa....

ALAN M.KENT (1967- )

THE ROAD TO RIALOBRAN

Find on your path from Morvah to Madron
Grave of Rialobran, Cunoval’s son

This is the translation of stone’s scroll
set up for the good of a royal soul

named The Raven, his father- Worthy Fame
set immortality and chiselled fame

of his son, who once ruled Carn Bran’s skyline
but now is watched by mute Greenbarrow mine.

At the start of the road to Rialobran
alone sits inscribed school-house, spick and span.

Plaque placed on in eighteen eighty two,
a late structure according to stone’s debut,

and though England’s past and poetry feature
stone’s name and words are untouched by teacher.

Latin/Cornish, like RAVEN, buried in earth,
killed young, not given life’s pennyworth.

Oh pilgrim of this sixth century tomb
consider the truth of culture’s heirloom:

a more fitting test of literature
heeds well the Raven mourners signature.

But the message isn’t carved or written.
instead, hidden history of Britain.

scratched on the road to Rialobran
true continuum is left without Kinsman,

such is the sweep of civilisation,
the poet comes to realisation

how while stone has stood as time’s icon,
two languages came, written, now are gone.
So like Cunovel, find hope dahed by Death’s logan
taken at the end of the road to Rialobran.

But dear Cunovel, at son’s setting, do not cry.
A thousand years on, we’ve unearthed the reason why.