A Cairn for George Mackay Brown
5,000 years ago
a stone HURLEDfrom Vestafiold
§it BROKE the upsurge
of Atlantic breakersheld aloof the raw salt wind
at Skara Braedug in to black earth
held limpets kelpbecame sepulchre and hometo fishermen and farmersthe stone-masonheld sway lorded the lodecoursed the dark labyrinth
§it FELL among brothers sisters
who danced in the roundwith the Beltane sunand the two watersat Brodgar§it CAPPED the skulls
of the wintering deadat Maeshowe
and scrawled upon its parchment
the one thousand woesof the dragon-fearedforeigners
this sky-bound up-turned drinking cuploosening the throats
of madmen rune-makersstorm-laden tomb-pickers§it BROKE the backs
of the plough ox the womenand taxedthe tillers of Birsay§at Egilsayit SHONE like a prayer mat
in the rainwhen the earl's skull snappedit brokeinto two bowls of lightin Kirkwall stalls
the choirs glee
the Missa pro defunctus
for earl Magnusthat kinsmen
might drinka star's blood§end stopped in the kirkyard
beneath the green waveat Warebethit came to rest STRONG as the makar's silence
<-- BACK