From Corncrake to God.

Goldfinch60

There it was, that sound, like a stick dragged down a comb – twice,

Would it be that I would see my quarry – I had four days so to do.

It had sounded so close, crreek-crreek ,  there it was again,

Look! over there, the sound came from there – nothing.

 

The evening was bright so I went for a walk, bins to hand.

Passing a field the sound exploded from the grass –crreek-crreek;

Quick look there, no only the movement of the grass in the wind

Hiding any movement of this elusive creature.

 

The boat went up and down, would we be able to land

On Staffa’s shore near the cave where Fingal reigned .

Yes we could so off I went in search of the clowns

That fly across the sea with rapid beat of wings.

 

Yet there again came this sound that was haunting me

This time some way away, but even here on this deserted land.

Up I climbed to the top of the cliff and sat on the grass

Hoping my silence would allow the clowns to come close.

 

Here they come wings all a flutter and land at my feet

Without any care, carrying fish in their widened beaks

So trusting these little black and white auks

With multicoloured coloured bills that bring a smile to your face.

 

I leave my new found friends to their precarious lives

The sandeels are now hard to find due to the greed of this world

So these friendly small birds so trusting of me

May one day not return from the sea.

 

Back we go to Iona’s beach, the Abbey looking on as we land.

Tomorrow we are to pilgrimage around this heavenly island.

So once more this evening when dinner is done

I’ll go and look for this creature, that mocks me from all over.

 

Back went I to the field where I heard them before

There’s the sound of, one, two, three even four

Rasping their call from all over this place but not to be seen

Even though they sound so close to my ears.

 

There!  What’s that out in the middle? Is that a head

That I can just perceive of the bird that has mocked me

Throughout these last few days of my trip to this Isle.

No can’t be sure, so can’t be a tick on my list ever growing.

 

 

 

Off on the pilgrimage round this blessed land

 With a song to Our Lord sung  by all who attend

We stop on occasion to mark each place

With readings and prayer so full of Grace

 

After many an hour travailing this land

We come to the Chapel of St Oran

And here mid this dark and the prayer filled Church

I am struck by my God. Have I ended my search?

 

This feeling of power just overwhelms me

Although the Corncrake I have still yet to see

My God has taken me straight to his heart

And I am aware of his magnificent power.

 

I came to Iona with others who felt that they knew their God

 and needed solace in this spiritual place

I came feeling the same until I heard that sound – crreek-crreek

So I started a different journey from the one I had started.

 

The Journey was stopped in no uncertain way

In that tiny Chapel on that glorious day when God came to me

To show he was with me and always would be

Thank you Lord for reminding me of you

 

It is said that the veil between Heaven and Earth

 On Iona’s land is spread very thin;

I say that the veil does not even begin

Iona and Heaven have shown me their worth.

 

So the Corncrake eluded me again this time

But I found my God with a feeling so powerful

That it changed my life, I now know for the better.

Now all I need to find is the work God wants me for.

  • Author: Goldfinch60 (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: September 11th, 2017 01:50
  • Comment from author about the poem: I wasn't going to put this poem on today but Orchidee mentioned the hymn "Make me a Channel of Your Peace" and that reminded me of my time on Iona where we sang this hymn at one to the Services. This poem took me a long to to write, which is unusual for me, we went to Iona in 2005 and I wrote this poem in 2009, I just could not write it before then because Iona had such a profound effect on me. Even today some twelve years later Iona is still special to me and I will go back one day, but not yet, it is still too soon.
  • Category: Spiritual
  • Views: 36
  • Users favorite of this poem: WL Schuett, dusk arising
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Comments +

Comments8

  • Michael Edwards

    I was with you on this journey - some write Andy

    • Goldfinch60

      Thank you Michael - it was some journey.

    • orchidee

      A super write and experience. Glad to have been of help by way of reminder. The second part of this very nearly fits a (Scottish) tune of 'Ye banks and braes'. It goes with words by John Bell - from Iona. The hymn is 'We cannot measure how you heal'.

      • Goldfinch60

        Thank you Orchi, I have met and sang with John Bell, it was a great experience.

      • orchidee

        A more gloomy comment (oh no!). Yet in some places we might think God's gone on holiday, or he's got bored with our mutterings and mumblings - not everywhere though! Maybe he went on holiday BECAUSE of his boredom with our dull services?! Unhappily, I know some such places.

      • WL Schuett

        Wow really fine art , this is high poetry

        • Goldfinch60

          Thank you so much WL, you are most kind.

        • Louis Gibbs

          A splendid depiction of your sacred place, Goldie! I had your experience in an ancient town on the northern tip of Lake Garda in Italy ... Riva Del Garda. It is life-changing, isn't it.
          Thanks for exquisitely sharing your sacred adventure with us!

        • Goldfinch60

          It certainly is life changing Louis, thank you for your comments.

        • dusk arising

          We know god by different names and traditions but wotever god is there can only be one truth. I know god came to me in a profound way and is always with me, always there for me. I guess I'm saying i know how you feel about your experience and god. It's only recently i wonder if there is something i should be doing with my faith and knowledge. Your writing today was quite exceptional. Saved to favourites.

          • Goldfinch60

            Thank you DA. I always agree with what Dave Allen used to say at the end of his shows "May YOUR God go with you"

          • myself and me

            It is such a great journey leading you to find your God.
            Very profound piece.

            • Goldfinch60

              Thank you M and M much appreciated.



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