1354

The yew tree stands in silent witness to

The centuries of faith that sanctify

This quiet place.

The yew tree stands in silence as it did

Before the barrows grew, the Long Man stood,

The cursus ran.

The yew tree stood and I am silenced by

Its age, its witness and its dignity

Encompassing.

Brian Hick March 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 23.4.25

 1353

The yew tree stands next to the Saxon chapel

Older than memory, its bifurcated spine

Propped and roped to protect its fragile life.

The yew tree stands

And so when the long Man's cutters grappled

With chalk or made their way in line

Along the cursus, with skin drum and bone fife,

To celebrate the solstice, as the knife

At sunrise cut across the downs to shine

Continuance to a valley, damp and dappled.

The yew tree stands.

Brian Hick March 2014

©copyright Sally Hick 14.4.25

 

1353

 

The yew tree stands next to the Saxon chapel

Older than memory, its bifurcated spine

Propped and roped to protect its fragile life.

The yew tree stands

And did so when the Long Man’s cutters grappled

With the chalk or made their way in line

Along the cursus, with skin drum and bone fife,

To celebrate the solstice, as the knife

At sunrise cut across the downs to shine

Continuance to a valley, damp and dappled.

The yew tree stands.

 

Brian Hick

©copyright 2021 S Hick