Sunday 26 October 2014

The Summerlands - a druid's view

At this time when mom is going away
I sit here waiting, thinking and pray
The druid's view of death it's true
Is not so different from any other path's view
As I  visited my 'inner grove' 
A place called Tintern that my family knows
I saw my dad waiting there close by
The ruined abbey watching birds fly
He looked so young and it is plain
He will be so happy to see her again 
I can not see her yet so I will leave
To help from this side when the time comes to grieve

Thursday 23 October 2014

Vigil

In this darkened room we wait
As you cross over midnight's purely gate
Sleeping now so still and soundly
The Angels move and work around thee
Watching now your life's review
Which is given now to you
As you gently slip away
From our world we quietly pray
Back now to whence you came
Sink back from the disease of pain
Go now child and gently be 
A shining light happy and free

For Mom

Friday 29 August 2014

The Long Barrow

The great Long Barrow upon the hill
A place where time always stands so still
A patchwork of farmland lies all around
This is an ancient buriel ground

The Ancestors speak up from this place
It's a portal which defies time and space
An axis mundi of a time long gone
But this entrance to the World Tree still lives on and on

Just below the crest to the NW behind
Lies the source of the Kennet
Pure, clear and crystalline 

The Swallowhead Spring bubbles out from Mother Earth
Guarded by an elderly willow tree 
Branches split, trunk of great girth
All tied with clooties and hung with shells 
This place is still revered and respected well

And to the north Silbury Hill reaches to the sky
Trying to catch those stars of the Southern Cross
As they ceased to fly

For the Stars they were leaving, not moving as planned
And that for the Ancients  
They could not understand 
Why certain stars no longer showed
What did this mean and who would know

Then they got fed up and rolled big stones across
Time to think and guard against loss
They closed the Tomb's mouth
As the Cross dropped further south

The Barrow was used now in a different way
As The Elders pondered and worked out  their state of play
This would change the ways of The Clan
It might spell trouble for every child, woman and man

Observations went on for 1000's of years
And no doubt The Elders had a great many fears

For the stars and the planets showed 
When crops were ready to sow
If they failed or got it wrong how could The Clan grow?
They had to ensure the safety of The Tribe 
But if things changed, how would they survive

The Shamans entred within the tomb
This dark and man made Mother's Womb
They lit their fires, danced their dance
Sat very still then rocked in a trance
Faces moved upon the walls
As they drummed and made their keening calls

For answers they were to seek to find 
They would journey to the future and back down the time lines

Would they still be able to tend to their crops, provide for families, feed their flocks?
Or would the future of the human race be lost?

But as you know we are still here. 
We've survived for 5  millennia 
But we still live in fear

But those who remember, do still dance
We sing, we drum, we pray, we chant
Up at the Long Barrow upon the hill
To thank the Ancestors who visit there still


By Sarah Bard and Ovate







Tuesday 27 May 2014

The Bonsai Druid

I am the Bonsai Druid
Growing my little trees
I roam around the city
Anywhere I please
Frequenting the graveyards
Looking for little plants
Then when I have found one 
I give it a happy dance, a happy dance

I am the Bonsai Druid
Looking for space to roam
Then when I've had fill 
I'll take a long walk home
Greeting all the Ents
As I pass by each one by
Thankful to the water
And the sun and sky, sun and sky

Then when I've got my little tree
I chant it's ogham name 
Tell it how I love it
And that I'm glad it came
Choose a little flat pot
For my tree to live
Then ask the Earth
To give nourishment, help to live,
help to live

Now I have an ogham grove
All in little pots
I look after them every day
And love each one a lot
I sit to do my Gwers
Amongst my little trees
And if I'm feeling cranky
Sit to feel at ease, feel at ease. 



Friday 28 February 2014