Iona – a special place on the planet: a special place in the Cosmos.
Iona from Fionnphort
Iona: A small island in the Southern inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland: place of pilgrimage: sixth century base of St Columba: home of numerous Celtic ‘High Crosses’ with their beautifully interlaced patterns symbolising eternity carved upon them: restored C13th Benedictine Abbey and Nunnery ruins: burial place of Scottish, Irish and Norwegian kings. Now, as ever, very much a place ‘on the edge’: home to the Iona Community – ‘an ecumenical Christian community that is committed to seeking new ways of living the Gospel in today's world. **
Described by George McLeod (Founder of the Iona Community) as ‘a thin place’ where the material and the spiritual come close to each other, this inspires the idea that this is indeed ‘a special place in the Cosmos’: a place that seems to speak to huge numbers of people on their spiritual journeys, as it has done and does to us. A place where the rocks are more ancient than those of the surrounding islands – and it is this that inspired this tribute. This will be the first of a small collection of poems celebrating that remarkable place.
Iona: The Island
When the Creator
Patterned these islands
With sculpting tools
Of tempest, ice, fire,
He knew the rôle
That was shaped for Iona:
He knew Columba's soul,
Filled with desire
For his Saviour,
Would thrive in this manger,
Guiding his followers
To face every danger,
As they were charged to
Go to the stranger:
And with Christ's peace,
Both peasant and chieftan inspire.
**The Iona Community can be found at www.iona.org.uk/
If you enjoyed this poem, other poems about Iona can be found at Iona - a Thin Place, and Iona: The Pilgrim Way
If you enjoyed this poem, other poems about Iona can be found at Iona - a Thin Place, and Iona: The Pilgrim Way
