Castle

There was a castle in Linlithgow
Where the wood had burned away
There were fireplaces halfway up the wall
It was kind of fascinating
All the stone works were still there
With holes and gaps were fire made walls fall

There were passage ways and staircases
All over here and there
It was rather like wandering in a maze
It was awfully cold and rainy
As I climbed the tower steps
And tried to view the country through a haze

This place
Where kings and queens were born
Inspiration for many poets’ words
Is an empty ruined place of stone
Nothing now but the dominion of the birds

Rock in Rain

There was a large rock in the rain
On the corner by the lane
It looked so sad and lonely there
I thought it didn’t seem quite fair
And so I joined it for a bit
And used it for a place to sit
But now I rather wish I’d not
Because a wet rump’s all I’ve got

Train Ride to Linlithgow

Trains so close together
You can reach from one and touch the other
Table seat by the window
Crowded in the back
Announcer on the speaker
Train begins to move
Tunnel black as midnight
A bright light at the end
Countryside streams by
On the way to your destination
Lots of stops along the way
Will you remember the right one?

For Silver Crow (if she ever checks this bog)

God's Country: On Returning from a trip to the Highlands

As I was wondering north to south
And roaming east to west
I came across a country
I decided I like best

It may not be the biggest
Or the most powerful place on earth
But I’m finding that the people
Make up for it in worth

I wandered in the Highlands
I wandered by the sea
I wandered in the city streets
And thought this God’s country

The people they were friendly
The landscape it was grand
I find that I will greatly miss
The culture and the land

I’d listened to the music
I’d even read the books
But nothing writ was worthy
Believing’s being here to look

I can’t remember all the stories
But I remember how it felt
To walk where Highland warriors died
And hike a mountain belt

I remember feeling proud and strong
And I remember feeling brave
I remember and am thankful
For the feelings this place gave

And I hope I can come back here
And I hope it won’t be too late
For Scotland is God’s country
And I think that it is great.

As I Was Walking in the Park One Day

As I was walking in the park one day
I spied a pheasant by the way
I wondered at his pretty head
his coloring of rust and red
then fancied he'd look better dead
and served up with a slice of bread

Climbing Archer's Seat

To hike up a tall mountain
the writers make it sound so fun
with views that are well worth it
and a lovely setting sun

But hiking up a mountain
even one that's small
ain't worth it when your feet hurt
and you're not in shape at all

They say the veiw is worth it
but you have to be able to see
wich is something I'm not good at
when I'm blind and all sweaty

Inspired by our feild trip to climb a mountain in Edinburgh. It used to be called Archer's seat but they've rename it a few times and I can't remember what it's called now. It's fairly small but I still couldn't make it all the way, just 3/4. I guess I'm not as in shape as I thought I was. Going down was much easier.

It Rhymed in My Sleep

There was a tunnel in the basement
It was dank and dark and deep
and no one knew for surequite how far it went

The only thing for certain
was a being in the deep
My reflection starring at me from the dark

This poem was composed while I was asleep on a plane from New York to Scotland. It was written on the back of a receipt for peanuts. I remember that t rhymed when I was sleeping but not when I woke up. I have no memory of writing it but it's my handwriting and I do remember buying the peanuts.