Stones of Scotland

This afternoon I decided to go sale shopping in town. There is nothing less inspiring than shopping so I went for a bit of a meander afterwards seeking some inspiration. I found it.

These are the Stones of Scotland, located on Regent Road. They are 32 stones from each of Scotland's 32 Regional Councils. They are a representative sample of Scottish Geology and celebrate Scotland's creative spirit.

In the background you can see Arthur's Seat, Salisbury Crags, a peek of Holyrood Palace, a peek of Scottish Parliament and a peek of Dynamic Earth. In the front, a stone with the last 5 lines of this poem engraved on it.

"It requires great love of it deeply to read
The configuration of a land,
Gradually grow conscious of fine shadings,
Of great meanings in slight symbols,
Hear at last the great voice that speaks softly,
See the swell and fall upon the flank
Of a statue carved out in a whole country's marble,
Be like Spring, like a hand in a window
Moving New and Old things carefully to and fro,
Moving a fraction of flower here,
Placing an inch of air there,
And without breaking anything.
So I have gathered unto myself
All the loose ends of Scotland,
And by naming them and accepting them,
Loving them and identifying myself with them,
Attempt to express the whole."

Hugh MacDiarmid

Exercise: 5 mile run in the morning wind and rain!