Crows and buzzards
whirl above the ancient stones
in angry circles,
their dissonant disputes
concerning ownership
of pockmarked, eyeless walls
as merciless
as bitter centuries of war
fought by the marcher lords before them.
A Marcher Lord is the English equivalent of a margrave in the Holy Roman empire. In this context the word march means a border region or frontier, and is ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *mereg-, "edge" or "boundary". This particular border lies between England and Wales and its exact lines have been fought over for centuries.
More contribution to Our World Tuesday No. 6
What an interesting post for the day and what a great photo! I really enjoyed the history you've shared, Friko! Hope you have a lovely week! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
I think you'll find that birds settle their disputes much more quickly and with less spilling of blood than us 'higher beings'. Great photo and poem though.
ReplyDeleteNicely done!
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem to share the dickering of boundaries. Fabulous image.
ReplyDeleteI really like the new header photo as well.
Bonza photo and poem. My parents are Welsh and came to Australia after the second world war to start a new life :-).
ReplyDeleteDear Friko, the first posting of yours I read back in late July or early August was historical. Your spare style brings out the essence of the history you show us.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Peace.
Thank you for teaching me something that I did not know before.
ReplyDeletePlease have a wonderful Tuesday.
At least the birds do something with the spoils of their victories...make nests or whatever. Human fight over things just to have them. Just to have them.
ReplyDeleteAnd then eight or nine hundred years later, what's left of the prize?
Well done. I particularly like the "eyeless walls."
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered what a margrave was. In fact, I think I'd better look the word up to get a definite handle on it. There's a road called "Margravine Road" in West Kensington, which may have an interesting history.....
ReplyDeleteFascinating, Friko, and I've learned a new word, although I'll probably forget it for lack of opportunity to fit it into everyday conversation.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo of the castle.
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
Your poem reminds that there is always a reason to fight - by people and apparently by creatures, too. I wish it weren't so. Your photo has such depth - I like the bit of ground to the right which shows the slope.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo and love the historical info~thanks, namaste, Carol, (A Creative Harbor) linked up with Our World Tuesday)
ReplyDeletevery well written. what a cool old wall.
ReplyDeletenice...cool pic of the runes and nice capture in your verse friko...why is it we have borders again? smiles.
ReplyDeleteThose ancient stones have certainly been witness to ongoing disputes...fantastic photo and have learned a word - you continue to expand our own borders of the mind.
ReplyDeleteMagnificent ruin. Although less tangible symbols of division still tower over us, balancing on their historical perspective.
ReplyDeletedieses fabelhafte Gedicht, märchenhaft und fantasievoll, lebendig auch - ich mag es sehr!
ReplyDeleteDir einen ganz schönen sonnigen Tag, liebe Friko!
Renée
The battles are won but the conflict goes on.
ReplyDeleteAnna
When I see the remains of these kinds of disputes, all I can do is ask Why???? Why cannot the human race live in amity with it's neighbours?
ReplyDeleteLove your photos and free verse.
Magnificent write Friko!
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
Every single thing is territorial ; fluffy koalas , birds , even butterflies .
ReplyDeleteIt's just that we've managed to add boiling oil and cluster bombs to our arsenal ....
There's something very triumphant in your description here. Even as the crows and buzzard whirl about...I can feel the winds of territorial war.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo and the story. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that a structure that old is still preserved, even just the remnants. Is the one on your header the same as that post?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture and wonderful words. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi there I am visiting your site as another Our World Tuesday participant. The words go so well with this photo, so atmospheric.
ReplyDeleteI have wondered for some times about the Marcher lords. Thanks for clearing that up. Dianne
ReplyDeleteA terrific bit of history, and
ReplyDeleteanother striking image saved
for us, for your eye is keen,
as is your wit, and sense of
history. Staring at your fab
photo makes me wonder though
if the wall is more many-eyed
than eyeless.
Didn't know origins of marcher lord. Captivating poem and images. The bit of history was welcomed lagniappe!
ReplyDeleteWe are incorrigible to a fault.
ReplyDelete~Mary
I was (nominally) here.
ReplyDeleteI just watched a travel show about the northern Welsh castles. Fantastic structures. But I've never thought of a buzzard's circles as being angry. They seem the epitome of grace to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd even the birds of the air dispute the boundary! It must mean boundaries are most important. But why? Is there a shortage? Jim
ReplyDeleteNever heard of 'Marcher Lords' and much enjoyed learning something!
ReplyDeleteThis post says much beautifully and I enjoyed it very much.
Warm Aloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
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What an amazing photo! Loved the prose as well.
ReplyDeleteI find it rather eerie, even on the brightest day, to see scavenging birds over and around ancient sites. I know the explanation is that they are hunting small mammals and beetles, worms and lizards, but even so I feel a chill running down my spine.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blue sky! The stone ruins and the nature only has witnessed the rise and fall of the tribes and human follies.
ReplyDeleteOn a bit different note, my husband is getting territorial in the kitchen after retirement. That's not bad at all.
So ominous! I feel the threat of the marcher lords so keenly in both your photograph and poem.
ReplyDelete