The Alphabet in Aberdeenshire
Previous to Mull, a Writer in Residency period in 2004 for the Year of the Artist
provided Simon and Aonghas with an opportunity to test how the Alphabet might be of interest to a community.
Working with both Outreach at GlenTanar Visitors Centre (where a number of workshops were held
exploring creative interpretaion through poetic and visual expression)
and also at Finzean Primary School, the process helped prove how the Alphabet can
come alive once involvement in the activity of creative response is begun.
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Outreach : Julie Thomson's Iodh/yew.
Silk of Gall Vin (yew)
Stemming from the holy island
Iona
From where the yew cult
A form of Druidism
Grew the sapling
Of Christinaity
One of the oldest living trees
Bearing red fruits
instead of cones
The sap used
For poison arrows
An ancient Celtic link
The wood used to produce
Weapons in the Middle Ages
The longevity of the tree
Associated with death
Julie Thompson
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Outreach : Tine/ holly.
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Finzean Primary school, right hand part of triptych (beithe/birch).
The lady of the Woods
In the spring cool breezes blow,
and the catkins on me will start to grow.
In the summer I give shade for hours
look above and see my flowers.
In the autumn when the sun is low
my leaves are filled with a ghostly glow.
In the winter when the last leaf dies
I wait for the spring to come and rise. |
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