A POEM A DAY - TARA THORN




Today I have been looking through the last year's photographs, images of the countryside around my Spanish village and from my Autumn visit to Ireland, England and Wales. This photograph leapt out at me. It was taken at the Hill of Tara in County Meath in Ireland where the boundaries of the ancient site are guarded by battered hawthorn trees, bent double by the wind. The branches of some of the hawthorn trees were covered with tied rags, rosaries and gifts in prayers to the old Gods and Goddesses. There is a real worry that the increase in such offerings can damage the trees and visitors to sacred sites in Ireland and the UK are asked to respect the trees. This hawthorn had a number of grass stalks tied to the branches, some already fallen to the ground, which seemed a much safer way to respect the tree and the magical air blowing around the Hill of Tara.  I loosely tied a blade of grass with a knot on a low branch and made my own wish, one which now I am thankful and happy to say was granted. 





© 2020 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved. 

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