Long Meg and Her Daughters circa 1848: Image credit S Bough, J Roy and B T Sweeten

The Monument Commonly Called Long Meg and Her Daughters, Near the River Eden

A weight of awe, not easy to be borne,
Fell suddenly upon my Spirit -- cast
From the dread bosom of the unknown past,
When first I saw that family forlorn.
Speak Thou, whose massy strength and stature scorn
The power of years -- pre-eminent, and placed
Apart, to overlook the circle vast --
Speak, Giant-mother! tell it to the Morn
While she dispels the cumbrous shades of Night;
Let the Moon hear, emerging from a cloud;
At whose behest uprose on British ground
That Sisterhood, in hieroglyphic round
Forth-shadowing, some have deemed, the infinite
The inviolable God, that tames the proud!

William Wordsworth

Obelix: Image credit Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny

Who put 'em there

I will not forget, the stones that are set
In a round, on Salisbury plaines,
Though who put 'em there, 'tis hard to declare,
The Romans, or Merlin or Danes.

Walter Pope (1630-1714)

Elder: Sambucus nigra

The still heady smell of elderflower

Coming up to midnight
Friday, 2005.
Car loaded, water and a sandwich in the fridge for the journey down tomorrow.
Leaving Essex a little after 4am.
Lock the doors, climb into the cockpit.
First stop Mum and Dad at the back of Pewsey churchyard
safe now in their circle and mine.
Fresh flowers and a solstice smile to them and all that went before.

Then gently into the Vale of Pewsey.
Windows down, wind blowing a year's worries away.
Skylarks and the still heady smell of elderflower.
And before the people gather there
a quiet stroll around my favourite Avebury stones and secret bank
still mist-surrounded and expectant.

LS