copyright 2012 Marceline Donaldson
We experienced a wonderful, brief, impromptu concert of troubador harp music by daughter accompanying her mother’s poetry recitation. It was a magical time. We thought we would share with you a small glimpse of Valerie Gillies’ poetry. She has several books of poetry, if you are interested and would like to read and know more about her work. “Her poems are rooted in an elemental world, and take from nature a lightness as well as a terrestrial substance. At the technical level her experiments with the musical dimension of poetry increase its diversity and resonance: she sees message and form as indivisible.”
They were in Cambridge for a Celtic Conference which brings in the most interesting, talented and gracious people. We look forward to their arrival every year.
copyright 2012 Valerie Gillies
FRUID WATER
Tune: “Logan Water”
“Fruid Water, furthest of all from the sea,
yours is the voice that means far more to me
than the salty wave flowing up the beach
of a great stretch of ocean I may never reach.
Little I care for foaming breakfers on the shore
or the surface calm that moves so much slower
if I hear your notes that are sweeter than the surf
of all the different waters of the earth.
I don’t need to see the whale or sea-wrack,
the flight of the gannet, the diving of the shag,
I long to watch your trout or your owl flying low,
on your banks I hear the sudden hooves of the roe.
Each of us finds that you can quench our thirst,
stream and surrounding terrain belong together from the first.
In the face of the light you become, through your quality,
like an eye reflecting us in transparency.
Huge masses of water roll in the oceans,
deep currents circulate, of gigantic proportions,
but where you flow freely and trickle over stones
you play with waves in rhythm, vibrate and sing along.
Out of vapour you have come back to liquid,
you return in your course every time to Fruid.
Evaporting, loop with air currents and precipitate:
between earth and heaven you mediate.
Your moving form issuing from the hills
twists in strands of water changed like turning veils;
they make a rope that spirals down the glen,
new water falling through it to refresh men.
I can tell by the current as it swirls along
where it comes from, what rocks cause its tensions,
and I praise your wave shape through which the water flows,
for they remain the same, and rarely go.
From “The Chanter’s Tune” a book of poetry by Valerie Gillies Published by Canongate Publishing Limited Edinburgh Scotland
Republished here with permission of the author/poet
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Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.
Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.
Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.
Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net
This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com
TO LEARN MORE about Bettina Network, inc. try www.bettina-network.com
IF YOU ENJOY OUR BLOG, USE OUR SERVICES TO BOOK ACCOMODATIONS WHEN YOU TRAVEL!
1-800-347-9166 inside the U. S. or 617 497 9166 outside or inside the U. S.
Poetry – Valerie Gillies
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012copyright 2012 Marceline Donaldson
We experienced a wonderful, brief, impromptu concert of troubador harp music by daughter accompanying her mother’s poetry recitation. It was a magical time. We thought we would share with you a small glimpse of Valerie Gillies’ poetry. She has several books of poetry, if you are interested and would like to read and know more about her work. “Her poems are rooted in an elemental world, and take from nature a lightness as well as a terrestrial substance. At the technical level her experiments with the musical dimension of poetry increase its diversity and resonance: she sees message and form as indivisible.”
They were in Cambridge for a Celtic Conference which brings in the most interesting, talented and gracious people. We look forward to their arrival every year.
copyright 2012 Valerie Gillies
FRUID WATER
Tune: “Logan Water”
“Fruid Water, furthest of all from the sea,
yours is the voice that means far more to me
than the salty wave flowing up the beach
of a great stretch of ocean I may never reach.
Little I care for foaming breakfers on the shore
or the surface calm that moves so much slower
if I hear your notes that are sweeter than the surf
of all the different waters of the earth.
I don’t need to see the whale or sea-wrack,
the flight of the gannet, the diving of the shag,
I long to watch your trout or your owl flying low,
on your banks I hear the sudden hooves of the roe.
Each of us finds that you can quench our thirst,
stream and surrounding terrain belong together from the first.
In the face of the light you become, through your quality,
like an eye reflecting us in transparency.
Huge masses of water roll in the oceans,
deep currents circulate, of gigantic proportions,
but where you flow freely and trickle over stones
you play with waves in rhythm, vibrate and sing along.
Out of vapour you have come back to liquid,
you return in your course every time to Fruid.
Evaporting, loop with air currents and precipitate:
between earth and heaven you mediate.
Your moving form issuing from the hills
twists in strands of water changed like turning veils;
they make a rope that spirals down the glen,
new water falling through it to refresh men.
I can tell by the current as it swirls along
where it comes from, what rocks cause its tensions,
and I praise your wave shape through which the water flows,
for they remain the same, and rarely go.
From “The Chanter’s Tune” a book of poetry by Valerie Gillies Published by Canongate Publishing Limited Edinburgh Scotland
Republished here with permission of the author/poet
________________________________________________________________
Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!
[give_form id=”3763″]
______________________________________________________________
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.
Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.
Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.
Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net
This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com
TO LEARN MORE about Bettina Network, inc. try www.bettina-network.com
IF YOU ENJOY OUR BLOG, USE OUR SERVICES TO BOOK ACCOMODATIONS WHEN YOU TRAVEL!
1-800-347-9166 inside the U. S. or 617 497 9166 outside or inside the U. S.
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