This was suggested by @HannahHobbit, who wanted a poem about islands and also suggested the words. I tried a sort of lilting metre, which may be why it came out like guided meditation. I don’t know
At first, all you can see is the sea
And then, slowly, the shape of a castle
Up high. Mountains with ribbons of roads
Which wind, sinuous, over the land,
Quite close. Now you can hear all the birds
Your boat speeds ever closer. You travel
Alone just for the sheer love of travel-
Ing. Smile, Breathe in the taste of the sea.
Look up, watching the flight of the birds
You reach harbour, then make for the castle.
Enjoy walking, your feet on the land
At last. Rambling, ignoring the roads
For what need do you have of the roads?
Unmapped, this is the best way to travel!
You climb, scramble, enjoying the land
Look back, over your shoulder, the sea
So far, now that you’re close to the castle
Up high, here all alone with the birds,
You watch, naming the species of birds
Who fly up where there aren’t any roads.
Go on, soon you will be at the castle
You know, now why you wanted to travel.
So calm, nothing but birdsong and sea
At peace, tranquil, alone on the land
You gaze, happily, scanning the land
For sheep, rabbits and rare island birds
Below, dolphins at play in the sea
No cars ruin the peace on the roads
This place, too far for most folk to travel
Is yours: you are the king of the castle.
You rest, lean on the old ruined castle
At one, now, with this beautiful land
Refreshed, after a hard day of travel
And lulled by the duet of the birds
And the wind, watching the darkening roads
As the sun, slowly sinks into the sea.
You came, travelling, up to the castle.
To see all that you could of the land
Saw birds fluttering over the roads.
Tom Juniper Poetry 