Wild Moment: Carol Lalley
In 2019, Carol Lalley walked the 73-mile St Conan’s Pilgrims Way from Dalmally to Iona: “The time spent at St Columba’s Bay in Iona is as clear to me now as it was then and I felt inspired to write a poem about it."
Iona
Gathered together at the end of the track,
Searching, eating, resting.
The clicking of pebbles and stones, moving below our tread.
What am I looking for?
White rocks shot through with green. St. Columba’s bread.
What did I find?
Stones, pebbles, full of colour, heart shaped, all shapes.
Smoothed by the centuries of history and sea.
Whose feet have trod here?
A moment in time, a glimpse of eternity.
The curve of the bay, the palm of His hand.
His sun sending rays to the edge of the land.
Nestled there, the rhythmic ebb and flow, a lullaby.
A voice, “Our Father”…,
Voices, “give us this day…" in harmony with the ocean.
Hearts lifted to Our God, Our Creator,
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
...World without end. Amen.
- Visit the British Pilgrimage Trust to read more about St Conan’s Pilgrims Way and other organised pilgrimages.
- Find out more about “the benefits of structuring a walk around a purpose that is determined by your heart” in the British Pilgrimage Trust’s book Britain’s Pilgrim Places, by Nick Mayhew Smith and Guy Hayward.
- Inspired to submit your own Wild Moment? Find out how here.
