Memory and sacred places

By Parson Thru

Sun, 26 Jan 2020
  • 3416 reads
14 comments
 

Nineteen eighty-one, it was

We’d borrowed a tent from Leeming
Some foul-weather gear
And those bloody boots

I remember running down the scree
Down the flank of Eel Crag

I’ve never done it since:
Bloody lunacy

But we were young

I thought I’d see that slope today
But, of course, it’s different
When you’re on the spot

Makes a fool of memory

I always underestimate
And the light won't last

It’s two summits further
Over Sail, Sand Hill
Beyond the Hause

Eel Crag, Whinlatter
Then Grasmoor End

The weather must have closed in

Yes.  I remember now
The sheepfold
Eating sandwiches
Wet through

That’s why we took our chances
On the scree

We didn’t know about the cliffs

I passed the pub
The Jennings one
Where we ate our steak

Or was it Newlands?

In that car of yours
The Renault
16?
Or had you bought the sporty one?

The little blue thing

Yes
That was it

I’m surprised we got the gear in

Certificate U
Poem
Parson Thruses Dairy
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

we didn't know about the cliffs. yeh. that stands out, because when you're young (not that I've ever been young) you're indestructable, or think you are- which is much the same thing). 

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Never young and wild, celt? :)

Parson Thru

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I could relate to your words in this poem. It's never a good idea to go back to old haunts because when you see the changes it's like breaking the dream and what you remember looses some of its sparkle. 

I did once visit the street where my very first house was, it was sad because they'd turned most of the terrace into a carpark. All the work my dad did on the house was now all gone and I found it quite devastating to think about.

Anyway, I bet you have fond memories to look back on, and that's what counts.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Hi Jenny. I'm glad you shared that memory and the feeling.

We are, none of us, an island.

Not sure about the grammar there, but I'm famished!! :)

Parson Thru

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It sounds a lovely haunt to revisit anyway, weather good or bad ( though beware of cliffs when the weather is bad!)

I remember in Snowdonia my youngest son (who had Asperghers) running on some rocks with glee and his slightly older brother being more frantic than us, and then the younger one screeching as he nearly fell - he was OK, but a bit more cautious afterwards to everyone's relief. Also have memories when I was a teenager of being with a crowd who ran down a scree slope (how much danger is there of twisting an ankle?), but I was with a very nervous girl, and the descent took us ages. Today we've been near here on a very muddy, squelchy little walk, and it ended in drizzle — but we came back refreshed! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Hi Rhiannon.

It's certainly a sport for younger folks. Sounds like you had a lovely time.

Muddy squelchy walks can be fun. I'll be heading back to the Lakes when the days are longer. I like the bouncy mossy turf on the tops of the hills.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I've just been reading up a bit about scree slopes - my memories were of the Fox's path on Cader Idris - there were all sorts of warning about danger to limbs and also of damage to the environment by causing mini avalanches I think! Rh

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

I swam in the corrie on Cader Idris!

Parson Thru

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I like how your memories unfold, like turns in a path

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thanks Di.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Ed Crane on

seem the same when you re-visit them. Normally a little disappointing.I tried walking one of Wainwright's easy ones. Easy? I dread to try the hard ones. I remember we left Newbury early and drove up to the lakes in one day. Slept in a the carpark somewhere. 

Ullswater is my favourite lake, even though the midges got me. I even wrote a poem about it. (Must dig it out)

found it it's a Haiku (I'd forgotten it)

 

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Is it on here? Can I have a look?

I used to have the Western Lakes Wainwright book.

I've tried different parts but only this one is magical to me.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Ullswater:

 dark and brooding fells

mirrored on tranquil waters

blessed by Wainwright’s boots

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Lovely.

Haiku (the idea) often does it best.

Parson Thru