Robyn Y Glas
Cliff has been the Bard of Caer Abiri (Avebury) since 2008. Every Beltaine, challengers come forward to take the title. These writings below are from 2008-2009. The first year Cliff wrote about places around Avebury; on his second year, he chose to write in chants. His Youtube channel is worth a visit as he's also a talented guitar player and singer. Enjoy! Cliff was finally bested in the challenge in 2012 and handed over the title of Bard of Avebury. He's still writing and performing his work, check his FB group out and YouTube channel
Staring with Beltaine 2008 and running through to 2009.
BELTAINE - WALK WITH ME
Come walk with me,
Around the stones of Avebury.
We will see what is to see,
From the secrets that it keeps.
We may see the faces,
Standing being patient.
Waiting for the shadow,
And the vulva to meet.
Have you met the Skywatcher,
Looking up towards the sky.
A clue maybe to understand,
What or where or why.
Go look around and see,
Find the mystery and believe.
Feel the energies run high,
On this day of high bel-fire.
Come walk with me,
Around the stones of Avebury.
We may see what is to see,
From the secrets that it keeps.
The Obelisk once stood proud,
Uniting the sky god without a sound.
Unifying with the Goddess,
By conception and a kiss.
In the circle of creation,
The cove is blessed with light.
Midsummer sunrise and holding,
Secrets of the night.
Two circles within a circle,
A creation of mankind.
Yet it holds so many secrets.
Still we've yet to find.
So, Come walk with me,
Around the stones of Avebury.
We will see what we can see,
From the secrets that it keeps.
Walk with me,
Around the stones of Avebury.
We will see what we can see,
From the secrets that it keeps.
Around the stones of Avebury.
We will see what is to see,
From the secrets that it keeps.
We may see the faces,
Standing being patient.
Waiting for the shadow,
And the vulva to meet.
Have you met the Skywatcher,
Looking up towards the sky.
A clue maybe to understand,
What or where or why.
Go look around and see,
Find the mystery and believe.
Feel the energies run high,
On this day of high bel-fire.
Come walk with me,
Around the stones of Avebury.
We may see what is to see,
From the secrets that it keeps.
The Obelisk once stood proud,
Uniting the sky god without a sound.
Unifying with the Goddess,
By conception and a kiss.
In the circle of creation,
The cove is blessed with light.
Midsummer sunrise and holding,
Secrets of the night.
Two circles within a circle,
A creation of mankind.
Yet it holds so many secrets.
Still we've yet to find.
So, Come walk with me,
Around the stones of Avebury.
We will see what we can see,
From the secrets that it keeps.
Walk with me,
Around the stones of Avebury.
We will see what we can see,
From the secrets that it keeps.
OSTARA - 7 YEARS OF THE STAG
It was on the full moon of ostara,
A night and day of great surprise.
A quest for the bardship of Avebury,
Was the seven tines of the stag,
His life.
I am but a simple man,
One that is not always in the know.
I follow my heart and morality,
And bards are not just poets!
The stag he is the energy,
And one that is noble and brave.
The queens/goddesses escort and known,
As being the sacrificial king.
He stands so tall,
And he is so proud.
In his elegance and the splendour,
Knowing he will one day,
Have to yield to a younger and better.
Tis the beginning of the time for high bel fire.
The lord of light and life.
Cernunnos, the horned god,
Queens escort, forever by her side.
He knows you know,
He tastes you in the air.
He needs to be apart of you,
One that's sincere.
He knows you know,
He tastes you in the air.
He needs to be apart of you,
One that's sincere.
Cernunnos, the horned god,
You may know him as is.
He looks and brings fertility,
Is one with the Goddess.
He stands so tall,
And he is so proud.
In his elegance and the splendour,
Knowing he will one day,
Have to yield to one younger and better.
For when his time comes,
When he shall bow down,
To a Younger more worthy, challenger.
In battle, he may lose his crown.
To you and me, an antler.
He knows you know,
He tastes you in the air.
He needs to be apart of you,
One that's sincere.
He knows you know,
He tastes you in the air.
He needs to be apart of you,
One that's sincere.
Blessings to Cernunnos and the Goddess,
Blessed be to one and all.
Hail to the King and the Queen,
Waiting for the Beltane call.
He knows you know,
He tastes you in the air.
He wants to be apart of you,
One that's sincere.
He knows you know,
He tastes you in the air.
He wants to be apart of you,
One that is sincere.
LUGHNASADH - SILBURY 'O' SILBURY
So bold and so tall.
Its presence,
A magnet,
The water it draws.
Silbury 'o' Silbury,
Your secrets unfold.
A most important feature,
For the people,
New and old.
Raised from the ground,
White and pure.
Now with a carpet of green,
Protection of its core.
Silbury 'o' Silbury,
A ring it is formed.
Call upon its energy,
For protection,
For each dawn.
Silbury 'o' Silbury,
Your treasure is beyond,
No king mounted,
Golden horse,
Souls led to believe,
Where found.
As time goes by,
Forgiven when we forget.
A monument of mans capabilities,
Is really meant.
Silbury 'o' Silbury,
Your view is for all to see.
A gift of sight,
For all around,
Obscured is Caer Abiri.
Silbury 'o' Silbury,
High status and great power.
You are here though in peace,
No need for any watch tower.
MABON - MY JOURNEY CONTINUES...
Walking along the Avenue,
Waden hill is to the west.
Up and over Overton,
To where we pay our respects.
Wandering up to the Ridgeway,
To where the Sanctuary stands.
Looking further now, upon on a hill,
I see a Mound.
This is the time for thanksgiving,
The fields now looking bare.
Its over the river Kennet I'm drawn,
Onto the West Kennet Barrow where,
The entrance there is one to impress
Protecting the secrets that lay behind.
Protection from the elements,
Though on a special day, the sunlight blinds?
Taking the time I stay a while,
Feel the energy and magic rise.
Bang on a drum, or sing a song,
It's a place still full of life.
On pondering, I ask myself,
Who was it protecting this place.
One is a mighty leader of kind,
One respected, but a human race.
On reflecting upon this time,
And what is to come.
Samhain it is nearing now,
And respect to those who have gone.
The view it stretches as far as Windmill hill,
I bow my head down to the Lady,
Who watches over still..
Feel the Dragons strength,
The sense of invisible force.
The Michael and Mary lines,
The goddess's inner magnetic source.
Taking the time I stay a while,
Feel the energy and magic rise.
Bang on a drum, or sing a song,
It's a place still full of surprise.
SAMHAIN - FOR THOSE WHO WE KNEW AND LOVED!
The veil now of the two worlds,
The Summerland's and our own.
We have gathered here together,
At the sanctuary,
With an apple of life, Love and hope.
On this night,
We stand together, (In circle),
As the New Year dawns.
We seek to stop time and pass over,
The life of those who we have lost and loved.
Around once, in reverse,
The circle is cast and drawn.
Round twice, slowing time,
For the spirits to hear our mourn.
Thrice round, Time stopped,
Now the gateway has opened again.
Close your eyes, See their face,
Their memory will always remain.
With the help of the energy,
The magic from this sacred place.
We speak to you through natures seed,
To be set free from time and space.
One by one,
We'll set them free,
Their names we will call.
The memory of the ones we love,
Will last forever, Forever-more.
Around once, in reverse,
The circle is cast and drawn.
Round twice, slowing time,
For the spirits to hear our mourn.
Thrice round, Time stopped,
Now the gateway has opened again.
Close your eyes, See their face,
Their memory will always remain.
When its time,
We'll set them free,
Along the Kennet they'll flow.
Through the valleys, and to the sea,
The seeds will be sown.
As with an end,
A new beginning,
A time to reflect and be.
Our journey it will continue,
And sign's of them well see.
Around once, in reverse,
The circle is cast and drawn.
Round twice, slowing time,
For the spirits to hear our mourn.
Thrice round, Time stopped,
Now the gateway has opened again.
Close your eyes, See their face,
Their memory will always remain.
Remember the good times and,
The moments that you shared.
Strength and courage is all is asked for,
To fill the emptiness.
As with an end,
A new beginning,
A time to reflect and be.
Our journey it will continue,
And sign's of them will be seen.
Around once, we restart time,
The circle was cast and drawn.
Round twice, moving forward again,
We thank the spirits that heard our call.
Thrice round, Time is now,
And the gateway has closed again.
Close your eyes, you will see,
Their memory will always remain.
One more time.
Around once, in reverse,
The circle was cast and drawn.
Round twice, we slowed the time,
For the spirits to hear our mourn.
Thrice round, Time had stopped,
And the gateway had opened again.
Close your eyes, See their face,
Each and everyday.
THE LADY OF WINDMILL HILL
She waits and hears all that is said.
She sees and feels thoughts in your head.
She guides you around the mounds you see.
Respectful intentions is all that she seeks.
She is a lady, she will tell you so.
The Lady of Windmill Hill is who.
She is the Lady, One whom you may know.
The lady of Windmill Hill.
She is of olde and before our times.
She feels energies from Michael and Mary ley lines.
She will greet you as you greet her.
Unrespectable behaviour though, beware!
She is a lady, she will tell you so.
The Lady of Windmill Hill is who.
She is the Lady, One whom you may know.
The lady of Windmill Hill.
She knows of our time and the Thanks! That we give.
She asks, has it been a good harvest.
She has seen these times of equal before,
Soon to recede from this harvest moon.
She is the lady, she will tell you so.
The Lady of Windmill Hill is who.
She is the Lady One whom you may know,
The lady of Windmill Hill.
She sings her songs in the wind you may hear,
She speaks with breath so soft and warm and clear.
She knows now that the time is right,
The shortening of the days and lengthening of nights.
She is the lady, she will tell you so.
The Lady of Windmill Hill is who.
She is the Lady One whom you may know,
The lady of Windmill Hill.
YULE
Yule is the time,
We give thanx!, and feast.
A time for forgiveness,
A time for peace!
The exchange of gifts,
The surprise and the smiles.
The Yule logs burn,
On this longest of nights.
We welcome the light,
On this shortest of days,
The shadows stretching long,
Seeking union once again.
The stones now look,
Older/colder and grey.
Another year passed over,
Another year and a day.
The Oak moon now wanes,
Towards rebirth.
The hard times approaching,
The wolf will emerge.
Happy Yule to you,
One and all.
To the Mother,
A word of thanx! for all our spoils.
We give thanx!, and feast.
A time for forgiveness,
A time for peace!
The exchange of gifts,
The surprise and the smiles.
The Yule logs burn,
On this longest of nights.
We welcome the light,
On this shortest of days,
The shadows stretching long,
Seeking union once again.
The stones now look,
Older/colder and grey.
Another year passed over,
Another year and a day.
The Oak moon now wanes,
Towards rebirth.
The hard times approaching,
The wolf will emerge.
Happy Yule to you,
One and all.
To the Mother,
A word of thanx! for all our spoils.
IMBOLC
Imbolc, Imbolc.
The return of the light and King.
The darkness now receding,
Making way for new beginnings.
Say farewell to the dark.
Welcome back the light.
Imbolc the spring is returning,
Once again sowing the seeds of life.
Imbolc, Imbolc.
And time is moving on.
The Circles and the avenues,
Awaiting this springs dawns song.
The cove will witness the Wolf take leave,
And the kaos of the storm.
The Chaste will be nearing,
And my year and a day will be won!
Imbolc, Imbolc.
The energies from this place.
We have learnt some of its secrets,
From the energy's that we've raised.
The man they call the barber surgeon,
The man who put name to stone.
This sacred piece but fate for him,
Became his end, his tomb.
Imbolc, Imbolc.
The shadow seeks ones love.
111 reasons for the sun to rise,
But sadly cannot touch.
We raise our hands towards the light,
As it rises we can see,
I thank you for the inspiration,
The Awen runs freely.
Imbolc, Imbolc.
The return of the light and King.
The darkness now receding,
Making way for new beginnings.
Say farewell to the dark.
Welcome back the light.
Imbolc the spring is returning,
Once again sowing the seeds of life.
The return of the light and King.
The darkness now receding,
Making way for new beginnings.
Say farewell to the dark.
Welcome back the light.
Imbolc the spring is returning,
Once again sowing the seeds of life.
Imbolc, Imbolc.
And time is moving on.
The Circles and the avenues,
Awaiting this springs dawns song.
The cove will witness the Wolf take leave,
And the kaos of the storm.
The Chaste will be nearing,
And my year and a day will be won!
Imbolc, Imbolc.
The energies from this place.
We have learnt some of its secrets,
From the energy's that we've raised.
The man they call the barber surgeon,
The man who put name to stone.
This sacred piece but fate for him,
Became his end, his tomb.
Imbolc, Imbolc.
The shadow seeks ones love.
111 reasons for the sun to rise,
But sadly cannot touch.
We raise our hands towards the light,
As it rises we can see,
I thank you for the inspiration,
The Awen runs freely.
Imbolc, Imbolc.
The return of the light and King.
The darkness now receding,
Making way for new beginnings.
Say farewell to the dark.
Welcome back the light.
Imbolc the spring is returning,
Once again sowing the seeds of life.
VERNAL THANKS!
Ostara is upon us,
One with balance and equal time.
The maidens they go seeking,
Hoping to catch someone’s eye.
We'll witness here now from this day,
The movement of the light.
The days will draw out longer now,
And overpower the shortening nights.
With darkness finally behind us,
As the rising sun shines forth.
Avebury becomes more of healing,
From the energies restored.
The moon, she looks down upon us,
Casting her shadows all around.
At this time of receding chaste,
The seed will grow without a sound.
I give some thanx! to Mr Aubrey,
Mr Stukeley and Mr Keiller too,
The restorers of this place we see,
And other good people who.
The keeper of the stones is one.
Inspired with the knowledge and wise.
A Journey he will take you on,
Of the past and present times.
Vernal Thanx! I give, to you all,
For witnessing my bardic challenge.
My year and a day is completed now,
From all that has been inspiring.
8 songs I vowed that I would write,
From all that has inspired.
Of journey's I walked with many on,
Among the stones, the trees and fires.
(outro)
"Come with me,
on a journey,
and see what we can see.
on a journey,
for you and me,
on a journey,
feel the energy's,
on a journey"
Repeat…
One with balance and equal time.
The maidens they go seeking,
Hoping to catch someone’s eye.
We'll witness here now from this day,
The movement of the light.
The days will draw out longer now,
And overpower the shortening nights.
With darkness finally behind us,
As the rising sun shines forth.
Avebury becomes more of healing,
From the energies restored.
The moon, she looks down upon us,
Casting her shadows all around.
At this time of receding chaste,
The seed will grow without a sound.
I give some thanx! to Mr Aubrey,
Mr Stukeley and Mr Keiller too,
The restorers of this place we see,
And other good people who.
The keeper of the stones is one.
Inspired with the knowledge and wise.
A Journey he will take you on,
Of the past and present times.
Vernal Thanx! I give, to you all,
For witnessing my bardic challenge.
My year and a day is completed now,
From all that has been inspiring.
8 songs I vowed that I would write,
From all that has inspired.
Of journey's I walked with many on,
Among the stones, the trees and fires.
(outro)
"Come with me,
on a journey,
and see what we can see.
on a journey,
for you and me,
on a journey,
feel the energy's,
on a journey"
Repeat…
2009
Beltane Chant
Around the Maypole,
The Maidens dance.
Weaving the ribbons,
With a may day chant.
With love in their hearts,
And a spring in their step.
Leaping the Bel-fire,
This seasons intent.
Summer Solstice Chant
The sun rises,
On the longest day.
People in circles,
Celebrate this way.
With Holly and Oak,
And life all around.
Hail to the Bel-King,
And this sacred ground.
Lammas
Let the games begin.
Lammas, Lammas, Lammas.
The portal is opening.
Lammas, Lammas, Lammas.
Autumn moves on in.
Lammas, Lammas, Lammas.
Feast of Lugh and gathering.
Lammas, Lammas, Lammas
Mabon
Equal day,
Equal night.
Fruits in abundance,
The birds are in flight.
Equal day,
Equal night.
Mid harvest time,
And sacred rites.
Equal day,
Equal night.
Welcome back,
Receeding light.
Equal day,
Equal night.
Energies raised,
On this sacred site.
/l\
Around the Maypole,
The Maidens dance.
Weaving the ribbons,
With a may day chant.
With love in their hearts,
And a spring in their step.
Leaping the Bel-fire,
This seasons intent.
Summer Solstice Chant
The sun rises,
On the longest day.
People in circles,
Celebrate this way.
With Holly and Oak,
And life all around.
Hail to the Bel-King,
And this sacred ground.
Lammas
Let the games begin.
Lammas, Lammas, Lammas.
The portal is opening.
Lammas, Lammas, Lammas.
Autumn moves on in.
Lammas, Lammas, Lammas.
Feast of Lugh and gathering.
Lammas, Lammas, Lammas
Mabon
Equal day,
Equal night.
Fruits in abundance,
The birds are in flight.
Equal day,
Equal night.
Mid harvest time,
And sacred rites.
Equal day,
Equal night.
Welcome back,
Receeding light.
Equal day,
Equal night.
Energies raised,
On this sacred site.
/l\
