From Small Begginings Story Poem For M'Lady Ernestine Poem by ivor or ivor.e hogg

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A cairn of stones that’s added to
By travellers who pass this way.
Although today they’re very few.

Few realise the cairn exists
Now no one can remember why
But the custom still persists

Originally the cairn was built
to mark the spot where someone died.
Perhaps assuaging a sense of guilt.

The killing was an accident
a blow which was in anger struck.
There was no murderous intent

He killed his friend and he confessed
The man was truly penitent.
So obviously that he impressed.

The learned judge who heard the case.
Who ruled that he was innocent
of murder but that he still must face.

A whole life sentence of regret
and that was punishment enough.
This old legend lingers yet.

Each time he passed the spot
he placed a stone upon the cairn.
Which whilst he lived grew quite a lot.

It towers now some eight feet high.
As people added their tribute
although no one remembers why.

Although it’s off the beaten track
one day you might just pass this way
and add your pebble to the stack


It has become a monument
a cairn of stone sure to impress.
Yet it began by accident

12/10/2009
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