A. L. Kaplan

Tag: flowers

  • Post 5: My Trip to Scotland: Part 5 -Yesnaby Coast and Skara Brae

    Post 5: My Trip to Scotland: Part 5 -Yesnaby Coast and Skara Brae

    Our day of seeing ancient structures continues. But first, wee stopped at this beautiful site on the Yesnaby coast on our way to Skara Brae.

    I’m pretty sure this is a fossil.

    Skara Brae is a stone age village that was uncover during a storm in 1850.

    It was fun to see a place people lived in 5000 years ago!

    They had one section staged like it would have been.

    Here is a bed.

    And a cupboard.

    It was a short walk to the rest of the village.

    They have a serious rabbit problem.

    Here is what the village looks like now. Imaging living in these cool stone houses.

    The Skaill house is a 17th Century manor house that overlooks Skara Brae and the Bay of Skaill. It was built for the George Graham, the Bishop of Orkney, and has been added to over the years. His son became the laird of the estate. It’s not as old as Skara Brae, but looks nice. So do the flowers.

  • FLOWERS

    Tears stained her face as she slipped from the car. A loud snore made her jump and cringe. Last night’s beating marred her face. He never let her stop here, the one place that made her happy. If he woke….She didn’t breathe until she was sure he still slept.

    Bright yellow flowers stretched as far as she could see. They called to her, singing, swaying in the sun; a peaceful contrast to her turbulent life. She pushed through thick stems to take a picture.

    Flower heads pressed against her. Their bright yellow faces bent and swiveled like no plant should. Sweet perfume filled her nostrils. Fear and pain vanished. Sunshine kissed her lips. When she opened her eyes thousands of yellow faces beamed at her as she hovered above the field. She smiled back. What a beautiful place to rest. No pain. No tension. Far from his reach.

    A patrol spotted her car later that day with her husband still passed out in his seat. Searchers followed a wide trail to the center of the field where they found her battered body under a blanket of flowers. Amongst the bruises a peaceful smile graced her face.

    Denials were useless. The officers were as moved by her husband’s tears as he had been to hers. Those same fists that had hit her so brutally shook when they cuffed him. They hauled him away, far from the beauty he denied her. Forever locked in shadows while she soared free.