{"id":453,"date":"2022-07-01T22:20:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T20:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.arendia.co.uk\/?page_id=453"},"modified":"2025-10-06T18:46:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T16:46:49","slug":"a-radial-to-the-sea","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.arendia.co.uk\/?page_id=453","title":{"rendered":"A Radial To The Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Moon-Gazing Hare<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a silent starlit evening
A fire burns for Beltane
The bright one shines the beacon
Over the amber plain<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A shape-shift on the horizon
A change of form tonight
Yet whilst the dance is turning
A flickering in the light<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Moon-Gazing Hare
Scan the Skies
The Moon-Gazing Hare
Suffer the Cries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A convocation of the creatures
A silent meeting of the mind
Sitting many in a circle
Thoughts between are thought to bind<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avalon is seeking solace
The levels give a falcon\u2019s dale
A twitch beneath a waxing gibbous
And a symbiotic tale<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Moon-Gazing Hare
Scan the Skies
The Moon-Gazing Hare
Suffer the Cries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Animals of field and forest
Look upon the one Widdershin
Whilst the heathens form a target
A pagan time to begin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The druid with an egg to worship
Is cosmic in his ways
But to outsmart the winter time
Upon a silver moon he must gaze<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2026
In the shadow
Of the stars
The Moon-Gazing Hare<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the cold
Of the frost
The Moon-Gazing Hare<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the fields
Of the wilds
The Moon-Gazing Hare<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the night
Cold moonlight
The Moon-Gazing Hare<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nemean Lion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nemean Lion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Son of Typhon
Son of Echidna
Brother of Sphinx and Cerberus
Hydra, Chimera<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twice the size
Of normal beast
Impervious of hide
Never can defeat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nemean Lion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lion of the land
Hercules must fight
Cornered in a cave
Face the primal might<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Son of Typhon
Son of Echidna
Brother of Sphinx and Cerberus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twice the size
Of normal beast
Impervious of hide
Never can defeat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Killed in mighty battle
Devoid of all scars
Legacy of Leo now
Written in the stars<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nemean Lion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Radial To The Sea<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I look around me
With an urge to be free
Upon all I gaze
A grimy filthy haze<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there was a time
Not so long ago
Where red met green
In the Mendip Hills<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Down onto the Axe
To where a radial met the sea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatred, intolerance, claustrophobia
Manic, madness closing all around
Solemn, red brick, modernity
Soulless concrete expanse<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And once more I dream of these historic pleasant lands
Where the rolling hills my haven
Tides caresses the sands<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A slow sojourn with my escape
By taking tracks a winding shape
Beyond the vast grey wall
To these fabled pleasant lands<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Midford, Radstock, Chilcompton, Masbury
Evercreech, Wincanton, Blandford, Templecombe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A once proud lady takes herself to her death
\u2018Cause soulless beings obsessed with progress
And Betjeman warned you
Yet you didn\u2019t pay heed
You ruined the landscape
With your underhand deeds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And once more I dream
Of where I want to be
Past the Somerset levels
To where a radial once met the sea<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Novichok<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organophosphate, the killer chem
Started as insecticide
A concoction by the Third Reich
Tabun, and next Sarin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Debriefings by allied forces
To isolate the source
Vaporised upon the field
Then formulating VX<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A change in faith
Defectors from the realm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the East, the silent weapon
A construct from a foreign land
Pavlodar Chemical Plant
Develop decontaminate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A232, a binary agent
Bypassing all detection
Classified, toxicity
Disguised discretely as pesticide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Novichok<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A change in faith
Defectors from the realm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hellish compound of terror
Inhibit A.C.H.E.
Interpol reconnaissance
Investigated by Bellingcat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Double agent in the city
A cathedral in sight
Collapsed in a public place
A secret deep within Porton Down<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Novichok<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the point? War is the point
Novichok<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cauldron<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gods of Asgard held a feast
They called on Aegir to get them mead
He could not find a mighty cauldron
A job for Tyr<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His father Hymir had a vessel
Over three miles in its depth
Not begat to Tyr nor Thor
A trick they had to play<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, they saw the grandmother of Tyr
She of nine times a hundred heads
Thor was hungry at the meal
Devoured two oxen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next day the gods went fishing
Hymir managed to catch two whales
Thor used an ox head as his bait
To catch a bigger beast<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They tried to prove their strength to the old man
As Thor caught two whales on his own
Then he smashed Hymir\u2019s goblet
By throwing it at his head<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jormungandr, Midgard Serpent
Ouroboros, Thor\u2019s Hammer
Raised up high, the line is cut
Not yet twilight, Nor yet Ragnar\u00f6k
Not yet twilight, Nor yet Ragnar\u00f6k<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cauldron<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who did they fight and what did they want
When did they fight and what did they want
Why did they fight and what did they want \u2013 Hymer\u2019s Cauldron<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who did they battle and what did they want \u2013 When did they battle, what did they want
Why did they battle and what did they want \u2013 Hymer\u2019s Cauldron<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine Herbs Charm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pagans calling mantra
Mugwort, oldest herb
Avail \u2018gainst the three
Plantain is the purge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open to the East
Poison and contagion
Quiet herb on stone
Quelling worldly pain<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malignant receiver
Barbed and discharging
Battle with the serpent
Betony, cleansing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greater, lesser, Chamomile
Ended at Alorford
Right across the sea spine
Immunity is forged<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine Herbs Charm
Heathen\u2019s Calm
Nine Herbs Charm
Woden\u2019s Balm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hail ! \u2013 Against the toxic
Fight ! \u2013 Three and thirty
Seal ! \u2013 Worm and water,
Strength is fed from glory<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poison ! \u2013 Cleansed without
Pain ! \u2013 Put to the sword
Venom ! \u2013 Of the serpent,
Blow evil away<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine the herbs \u2018gainst poisons
Nine the herbs have strength
\u2018Gainst foe\u2019s hand and scheming
And creature enchantment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woden took the glory twigs
Struck against Adder
Apple and the poison
Chervil, Fennel, might<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine Herbs Charm
Heathen\u2019s Calm
Nine Herbs Charm
Woden\u2019s Balm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Book of Lambspring<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The warning of the ocean
Two fishes in the sea
No flesh nor bone possessed
The vast eternity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Body, spirit and soul combine
Sulphur cooked with Sulphur\u2026
Subliming! Burn!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enter the Beast!
With skin of blackest dye
Beheaded, sages rejoice
Smoke fumigates the sky<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hear without terror
The deer and unicorn\u2026
Golden! Forest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you behold the greatest marvel
Two lions are co-joined into but one
Lurking in a ragged valley
Fierce; yet they be snared<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A venomous dragon
Is the elixir
Mercury precipitated
The basilisk doth fear<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snake tail, consuming,
The eternal balm\u2026
Circle! Rebirth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nest in the forest
Phoenix in the trees
Fledglings of the eagles
Brood of Hermes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The king is rising
The dragon underfoot\u2026
Panacea! Life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading them into the forest
Wisdom transforms worldly wise
Holding tight the Philosopher\u2019s Stone
Of Hermeticum<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleeping father is changed\u2026
Into limpid water\u2026
Virtue of this liquid\u2026
Good work is\u2026
\u2026Accomplished<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now beautiful father\u2026
Father in the son\u2026
Untold precious fruit\u2026
Perish\u2026
\u2026Never more<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the fearsome fighting\u2026
Restoration follows\u2026
Turning of the tables\u2026
Alchemy\u2026
\u2026Deciphered<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No more death they ponder\u2026
Splendour of the kingdom\u2026
Face of ancient master\u2026
He in\u2026
\u2026Crimson robe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behold!
The Book of Lambspring!
Behold!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Island of Ghosts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uranverein in \u201939
The start of the Fission Age
Heavy Water and Isotopes
Quantum half-life decays
M.A.U.D. and Uranium
The fall of the Arizona
353 in Operation Z
Submarines and sonar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oppenheimer the destroyer of worlds
Bhagavad Gita is born
Teller rises to another plane
The third idea is formed
Manhattan is forging on
Tightening the ratchet
20K on Jornada
Detonate \u201cThe Gadget\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we end up with Hydrogen war?
Why did we upscale even more terror?
Why did we capture the face of the sun?
Must we have fired the unholy gun?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trinity \u2013 Island of Ghosts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we end up with Hydrogen war?
Why did we upscale even more terror?
Why did we capture the face of the sun?
Must we have fired the unholy gun?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drybones Wood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once was the day when all this was yours,
Leafy green bows, smooth stones on the shore<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your garden domain, where you could be free
To roam through woods and own every tree<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sun on your back, the wind in your hair,
Just close your eyes and you would be there<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How were you to know of the gathering cloud,
The dark breath of progress, a sinister shroud<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world span around you at breakneck pace,
as you sat in your own shell, ignoring the race<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trees fell more silent with each passing day,
And you never noticed their song fade away<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They tried hard to warn you of what lay ahead,
But ignorance and denial staved off the dread<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the merciless flames they came to your door,
You understood then that your world was no more<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today in your footsteps, these bones are dry
Cold, empty echoes where memories lie<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last laugh is yours though, many years on
The song has returned, now everything\u2019s gone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Earth has reclaimed what always was hers,
A vivid green swathe, to blunt the ploughshares<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wish you could know; you were right all along
As I bask in the sunshine, the sweet scent, the song<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My escape from the real world I hope it will stay,
Long after I\u2019m gone, and my soul\u2019s passed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today in your footsteps, these bones are alive
A long-lasting garden for memories to thrive<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Moon-Gazing Hare On a silent starlit eveningA fire burns for BeltaneThe bright one shines the beaconOver the amber plain A shape-shift on the horizonA change of form tonightYet whilst the dance is turningA flickering in the light The Moon-Gazing HareScan the SkiesThe Moon-Gazing HareSuffer the Cries A convocation of the creaturesA silent meeting of… <\/p>\n

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