Ravens at Kelso: a Poem

My dad's family came from this area in Scotland. Kelso Abbey was one of the great abbeys in the Scottish Borders razed by Henry VIII during the period of the "Rough Wooing".

I'll never forget being there, and the great black birds croaking among the ruins and the headstones. Here is a poem I wrote about our visit.

Established in 1128

 

 

 

Ravens at Kelso Abbey

by Gayle Weatherson

I heard them croak in Kelso’s ancient kirkyard,

Among the flinty ruins of the abbey:

Rasping cries from tree to tree, echoing stone to stone

Like knives cutting through the silent morning.

The swoop and glide of dark feathers;

A glimpse of wing and flash of tail,

Sharp against the pale grey pearl of sky;

The curving whisper of air displacement

As one lit upon a bough of twisted pine.

 

A single feather fluttered,

 

black as night, beneath the tree,

An obsidian blade shining sable on the green green grass,

Although there was no sun.

 

The Abbey

 

 

Gàidhlig Language Acquisition and Spaghetti al Dente: An Analogy

So...(I promised myself a long time ago that I would never begin anything with the word "so". So it was, but is no more...)

So, I'm learning Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), and have been "learning" it for six years. Given that I've had fewer than twenty-five days of actual classtime over the course of those six years (with furious bouts of directionless study in bewtween), it's amazing I know anything at all. I live out in the wilderness--an fhàsach--without access to a regular class until very recently, when I finally signed up for a weekly Skype class from Caroline Root. It was an excellent decision, despite my reluctance to adopt new-for-me technology. Just having weekly sessions, a wee bit of homework each week, and listening to and speaking in the language despite my mumbling reticence, has been a marvelous way to open new pathways in that darkening grey matter I call a brain.

It has helped me to see the huge gaps in my understanding, as well as some of my strengths (few, those). It has also caused me hope that with enough diligent work I might achieve a modicum of fluency before I die. That, and asking for help when I need it, from the generous community of Gàidhlig teachers and learners out there. We are, in essence, in the same bàta.

However, learning a new language at the age of sixty is not the same as learning one at six. Of course it's not. It's rather like spaghetti as one ages. One tests whether the noodles are done by throwing a few of them at the wall and if they stick, it's ready to serve. Or maybe it's the other way around...At any rate, that's what language acquisition is--you throw a handful of words at a brain, and some of them stick. Many of them don't, but you keep at it. My brain is a pretty slippery little nugget.

But I realized long ago that learning this beautiful old language--the reasons for which are as complicated as the language's history itself--is worth pursing for no other reason than to do a tiny wee bit in helping save it from oblivion. I would like fluency one day, but I'm old and may never reach that pinnacle.

Like these drawings that are unfinished, learning is never a done deal. Nevertheless, I'll keep at it.

Alba a' feitheamh (Scotland Waiting)

 

(The Unicorn has since been completed)

 

Alba, My Alba

 

 

Bratach na h-Alba

 

So this is it. It was it, Scotland’s chance at self-determination, blown away like thistledown on the winds of despair and fear. This little blue flame that had so much potential to become a beacon of democracy for the world has been snuffed out and the world can now get on with the business of spiraling into the shithole it has made for itself. Just a blip on the screen of darkness. So much for the chimes of freedom.

They may ring again one day, but probably not in my lifetime. The Unicorn is still chained.

 

 The Bee at Culloden

 

 

Saor Alba

 

 

Summary of An Interesting Year Or So: Runrig, Oregon Coast, Tucson, Hawaii, Montana

Well...It has been some time since I've written a blog post. A great deal has happened since I retired from teaching.

Probably the most significant was our August trip to Scotland to see Runrig for their 40th anniversary celebration at the "Party On The Moor", held near Inverness. We stayed in Edinburgh for a few days, taking a day-trip to Sterling Castle and the Glen Goyne Distillery, going on a tour of the Scottish Parliament (Parlamaid na h-Alba), and mingling with the Fringe crowd before taking the train north to Inverness for another few days and the concert.

The performance was amazing and I still can't believe we were there. What a special, awesome night! Julie Fowlis was MC (and she sang a number with the band too), Mànran provided a fantastic performance, along with a few other topnotch groups, and then the lads were on. Arthur Cormack was standing about two yards behind me throughout the concert, and James Graham was on our train. (Of course they didn't have a clue who I was, and I managed not to accost them.)

The "lads"

 

 

We then visited Oban for a few days, took a tour to Mull and Iona, walked all over, took thousands of photos, and carried home the best of memories.

 

 

 

It was the Oregon Coast during the holidays--that quiet week between Christmas and New Year. Relaxing and beautiful, there were people surfing in the glorious weather. Tides were extreme that week.

 

The spiral stairs at Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Lace falling water

 

 

 

In February we traveled to Tucson for the gem and mineral show, (where I spent too much money). We got to visit the Sonora Desert Museum and the mission of San Xavier del Bac--both moving places. The sky is so incredibly blue.

Negative space

Edificio

Sonoran Desert

Cactus

 

 

 

In April, just after we started a kitchen remodel and had a flood downstairs, we flew to Maui. I didn't think I'd love as much as I did--and do. What a beautiful island.

 

P.T. Fleming Beach

Island Light

Moving Water

 

 

 

 

This last Sunday we got back from a week in Montana. It was good to be home, and we got a chance to visit with family.

Lake McDonald

Colorful rocks and clear water

Rain on water

 

 

It's been a good year in other ways too: I got my braces off and survived oral surgery (lots of blood and bruising), and the kitchen is done. Now to get the house back together.