Dark
Rook on the roadside straight ahead
you step aside casually
only just avoid my wheels.
Is that why I smile at the mirror
see you promptly step back
to continue to pick and prod
and pull at roadkill entrails
some straitjacket driver provides?
Like the crow, the raven, the jackdaw—
few are as bright as you, so dark
in colour and reputation
copyright Leofwine Tanner 2019
What was once the north aisle of the abbey had been adapted to make the present day parish church.
Croyland is the old name for the settlement.
The abbey was one of the more prominent victims of Henry VIII’s and Thomas Cromwell’s Dissolution of Monasteries, an action which made England’s monarch immensely rich.
The present church has been created by adapting what was once the north aisle of the abbey.
Saint Guthlac was the founder of the abbey in the middle of the so-called Dark Ages. The land all around this area of the Anglian kingdom of Mercia was flood prone, quite isolated, yet with plenty of scope for fishing and fowling, making a perfect location for a monastic centre.
What was not taken down or pillaged following the dissolution, was further violated by Oliver Cromwell and his forces in the 1640s during the so-called English Civil War.
Since then, the graves of the succeeding generations have filled the spaces around the ruins.
copyright Leofwine Tanner 2019
copyright Leofwine Tanner 2019
We were based in Belfast, an up and coming city with a proud industrial heritage, particularly in ship building. It was here, of course, where the legendary ocean liner, The Titanic was built.
In more recent times, though, Belfast has been blighted by what was called ‘The Troubles’. Thankfully, those days are long gone but the scars remain. I won’t talk about those times right now.
No, I want to talk about the County Antrim coast road, which takes you around the northern tip of the island of Ireland.
I have scarcely seen such beauty, anywhere; the fantastic vistas out to sea, atmospheric views across to Scotland and the Mull of Kintyre; the wonderful, secluded, almost deserted beaches.
And then of course sensational spots like the Giants Causeway.
In fact, words almost fail, except to say that property sales particulars were consulted. Simply wonderful.
There will be more pictures to follow in future pieces on the fabulous little corner of the world.
copyright Leofwine Tanner 2019
Ciscography 