Grass Point

         GRASSPOINT

         In the tearoom we asked for coffee

         and home-baked scones with jam -

         were asked if we'd enjoyed our sail -

         unaware that we'd arrived by car!

The road from Grass Point: Photo © 2010 Sarah Charlesworth.

         Grass grows down the middle

         of the three-mile road to Grasspoint

         where the Old Ferry Inn watches

         MacBrayne's sailing past Lady Rock.

         Years past pilgrims paused here

         enroute for St.Columba's isle,

         and cattlemen drove their beasts

         across towards mainland markets.

         Now passengers on the launch from Oban

         stop off at Mull's nearest point

         for a quick taste of feeling insular

         and buy chocolate mints from the gallery

         where sculpture and collected bones,

         newspaper cuttings and books of poems

         coalesce into a single exhibition

         of history and restoration.

Stone seal at Grass Point: Photo © 1999 Dave Fergusson.

         Quiet again after the boat's return

         we watch the waves wash over the sculptured seal

         before driving off along the twisting way,

         the post-van squeezing between trees to let us pass.

         Days later, from the car-ferry lounge,

         ourselves heading for mainland motorways

         we remember our weeks on Mull

         and look across to a remote, white house.

         © GERALD ENGLAND.

Old Ferry House: Photo © 2010 Sarah Charlesworth.

Composed: Glamis, 8th August 1984

Unpublished