There is al ot in this poem for me James it is quite deep and I understand a 
lot of what you are saying here. I am interested in standing stones and do 
think there is a kind of magic associated with them. The mountains in 
Scotland do have a magnetism about them and some in Wales also. Just one 
quibble for me, the penultimite line does not seem right for me. I think it 
is the word may which conuses me a little. bw Sally j


>From: James Bell <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New sub: Visits To Stone
>Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 10:18:15 +0000
>
>We have recently found that there is a small menhir under a laurel hedge on 
>the edge of our garden in Brittany. It has made me more interested in 
>standing stones and started producing poetry too. Comments welcome.
>
>VISITS TO STONE
>
>you travel into the country of stone
>and - though you look
>have seen none yet
>tho' fel the heat they will hold
>later in the day
>
>you feel that stone around your
>neck - the burden to make
>your head bend forward
>and ache even in the sun -
>tho' there will be release
>
>and the stone you live beside -
>have visited again and touched
>to make sure it still exists
>radiated nothing - answered
>your touch with its hardness
>
>and at night there is silence
>the stone clouded by mist
>for dew at dawn that will make
>the stone glitter before
>the morning again moves on
>
>you think of that stone
>and sense the pull
>the heaviness of granite that
>might crumble in another 5000 years -
>too long for you and stone visits
>
>too long even for the non-living
>to remain in one shape
>for anyone to be concerned -
>may one day slip from a mountain
>or stand on the bottom of the sea
>
>
>
>bw
>James