The Ness of Brodgar Book of Rhymes – Part One…..Pics. of Scotland…..
by Bernie Bell - 09:38 on 26 August 2023
The Ness of Brodgar Book of Rhymes – Part One….
The dig may be over for this year, but words can still weave the story…
This is a re-working of ‘School Days Over’ by Ewan MacColl, and a tribute to all those folk who come here for the digging season and work voluntarily – where would Orkney archaeology be without them?
Day-Job’s Over
Day-job’s over, come on now John
Time to be getting your diggin’ boots on
On with your knee-pads and your full water-proofs
It’s time you were on your way
Time to be learning the digger’s job
And working – though you don’t get paid!
Come on then Jo, it’s time to go
Time you were working down below
Time to be handling a trowel and bucket
You start at the dig today
Time you were learning the digger’s job
And working – though you don’t get paid
Come on then Jim, the day is bright
Time you were in your place on site
The morning mist is lifting from Stenness
It’s time you were on your way
Time you were learning the digger’s job
And working – though you don’t get paid!”
Kind-of by BB
Thoughts about the drain, discovered at the Ness
It’s not just Sky-stones,
Carved Balls,
Painted Walls.
It’s the basics of life.
Making, Breaking.
The fragments which can say so much,
To those who pay attention.
Butchery – How?
Placement – Why?
Careful noting of the smallest detail,
Builds the picture.
The beauty matters.
Beauty, simply, does.
“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
The principle works down the ages.
Beauty, mystery, and…..practicality.
LIFE.
Bernie Bell August 2015
The Diggers Prayer
Lord grant that it may not be wet,
Oh, please, Lord, keep it dry.
And may the wind be of the kind,
That gently whispers by.
Let the trench supervisors
Every one - be in a good mood.
And let some friendly person,
Turn up with yummy food.
Oh, let me be the one to find,
The ‘find’ that’s Number One,
And let me come back to the Ness,
Each year, ’til digging’s done.
Amen.
BB
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Pics. of Scotland…..
…18th - 25th of August 2023…..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-66545511
Jay Kimber’s pic. of raindrops falling on Loch Carron - other-worldly.
Scott Torbett’s Edinburgh Fringe street performers pic. is surreal - in a different way.
YAY!!! Orkney!!! John Hamilton’s pic. taken at Yesnaby!
My Yesnaby tuppenceworths….
https://theorkneynews.scot/2022/06/08/images-of-yesnaby/
https://theorkneynews.scot/2018/04/12/orkney-walks-yesnaby/
And Will Brown’s taken at a Kirkwall wedding – ‘With a waggle o’ the kilt….‘
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-xRNMdoagU
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PS
Just in - Bartholomew Barker's Fraiku...
https://bartbarkerpoet.com/2023/08/25/fraiku-hyperbaton/
I knew he could do it!
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Here’s one I made earlier….. https://theorkneynews.scot/2021/12/29/an-odd-coincidence/
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