Tintagel - Birthplace of Arthur

by pete marshall

Perched high upon this jutting cliff

The flint felt hard upon my feet

I lay with lizards and basked in warmth

As waves rose high and swirled beneath

Across the bay the castle walls

That stand in time & in a time

Many have been and dabbled with myths

Whilst taking steps to do the climb

Below the surf strikes on the rocks

And hides the cave where magic lies

As people wait for seas to drift

And search for quartz beneath the tides

The rolling slopes and ragged crags

Engulf the isle that now lays calm

Where once was death and battles fought

And magic brought the golden one

My eyes search out the fabled tales

As colours blend upon this land

And birds that swoop in endless song

From grass & rock to sea & sand

Behind my back stands Barras Nose

Who’s clash is vain with battling seas

As heat comes down and warms my soul

I lower my head in prayer for thee

And those before and yet to come

Like beating drums within my mind

To find a place that brings you peace

Away from truths that take you home

*********

Originally published One Stop Poetry 21st August 2010

image courtesy creative commons flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/dysanovic/ 

In Justice

In Justice

by pete marshall

Cobbled stones that lead unto

a granite wall & iron rails,

death would walk 'mongst weeping cries

beyond the gates of Bodmin gaol.

A smile that pulls past ragged teeth

bestows a child with ashen hair

who walks past rows of sullen homes,

dampened cells & stifled air.

Rights are called on bastard thieves

who stole a hunk from bakers fayre.

Alone she sat beyond reproach

yet fairies brought her food to share.

For troubled times begin to brew

as torches burn in hate filled streets,

the hangman bows upon a door

that opens forth past 13 feet.

************

Having just returned from visiting so many wonderful sites in Cornwall, this poem has been inspired after my first ever visit to Bodmin Gaol, and perhaps the troubled times we are currently envisaging.

This is  also shared with Dverse

image courtesy creative commons flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennyboy/