Galleyhead Poem by Martin Moore

GALLEYHEAD (DUN DEIDI)

Down a narrow road with grass strip centre
As the sun slips through the fingers of the broad horizon
And daylight fades
We land at Galley head.
This rocky promontory is a flagstone at heaven's door
While sipping on a glass of wine
We sit and watch the cormorants flying in
From the broad expanse of ocean.
The last few sea birds skim the surface
Then fly over the lighthouse
Partly concealed from view by the cold wall of the old fort.
The dark grey stone contrasts with the calm still blue of the ocean.
At the cliff edge, sea thrift tufts cling to life
While seagulls, homeward bound are gliding upwards on thermals
Yet others lying low amongst the chocolate brown seed heads
Of docks in annual decline.
I see patient cows on floating fields chewing the cud
Extracting food from meagre grazing
Above the bright boiling bubbles
Where water meets rock.
A distant sail is a thin white strip,
A mere dot in the grey blue forever.
The distant headland is a sleeping crocodile
With dotted dwellings on its long sleek back.
The low stone walls divide the broken landscape jigsaw like
A line of telegraph poles at twilight
Are Easter Island heads keeping watch over Dun Deidi.