I am Here to Wonder

Chaplaincy trip to Holy Island in Northumbria, also known as Lindisfarne. *  A cloud of witnesses. To whom? To what? To the small fire that never leaves the sky. To the great fire that boils the daily pot. To all the things we are not remembered by, Which we remember and bless. To all the things That will not notice when we die, Yet lend the passing moment words and wings... Louis MacNeice (1907-1963), excerpt from  Fanfare for the Makers

Chaplaincy weekend away at Cumberland Lodge, 17-19 November 2017, in which I spent four hours walking to Windsor Estate from Egham Railway Station at night with my tripod and rucksack. I wrote two pretentious poems from title-prompts for one of the activities there: ADVICE TO YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE STRESSED Remember, if you will The bleak corridors, choking heights and stale-green grilles, the Breathlessness – discordant drumbeats and falling Card towers. And stars, for it was not so long ago When they crumbled into floorless depths from Dark paper skies. And those aching gashes Sheltered fiercely in scholarly pretention – the round sound of Weltschemerz , Camus’ hurt in original French –  As if a foreign script’s mysterious loops and accents Could paint your secret paralytic pain. But remember also How an autumn raindrop in Windsor is most beautiful hanging  From the tip of a weak weeping twig Extending uselessly from a tired bough, trembl...