dry stone walls

(i've been trying to write this for a long time now, begun while i was in ireland and still not satisfactory.  but better something than nothing, right?)

in ireland, particularly in the west, there are stone walls everywhere.  they are markers of the countryside, dividing fields and sometimes almost seeming to create mazes. 

in addition to looking surprisingly beautiful – almost poetic – the walls themselves are quite interesting.  for one thing, you can sort of see through them.  these are “dry stone walls,”  made by stacking larger stones on top of each other without using mortar or any type of “glue” to bind them.  in fact, no smaller stones are even used to fill in the spaces so that the wind can go through the walls.

in a poetry reading while i was there, a woman spoke of writing poems like building these walls.  it was quite good, and really got me thinking about them.  as we drove past them for the next few days, i continued thinking about it.

the walls are ubiquitous, and beautiful.  i can’t help but be charmed by them, no matter how many i have already seen or continue to see.  they are geometric, and not.  they are definitely organized, but also organic.  they look at once old and ageless.  they add depth and texture to every landscape.  i can’t quite explain it, they have just captivated me.

these walls are made by hand, carefully crafted piece-by-piece with local stones.  i don’t know how it’s done – they look sturdy, but the engineer in me says they should be tenuous.  it’s a lot like life:

• the stones to make the walls were dug up by hand from the fields, which served a dual purpose – clearing the field for farming and providing the materials to pen the animals.  may we find and use our natural resources in such beneficial ways.
• the walls were built by craftsmen, choosing stones carefully and using tools in order to fit them into a solid structure, without the benefit of mortar to add strength.  the walls took a long time to build, but the builders had plenty of time on their hands, so they didn’t have to rush it.  may we build our own cores this way, without artificial strengtheners, and patiently, piece-by-piece, building for stability.
• many of the walls were built 150 years ago, yet are still fully in place today.  may the strength we build into ourselves also be long-lasting.
• the structures are resilient, letting the wind blow through rather than always fighting it.  may we also let foul winds blow through without being displaced.
• many were built as a sort of public works project to relieve people during the famine.  may we similarly allow ourselves to help and support those who need us.
• the walls allow vines and flowers to flourish on them, which simultaneously helps bind the stones more securely together.  they are also homes for small animals and other critters.  may we find beauty with which to decorate our frames and share it gladly with others.
• they are flexible, acting not just as boundaries, but as gates.  the original walls had no gates.  when animals needed to be moved, a portion of the wall was simply dismantled and rebuilt.  may we know when and how to adjust ourselves while still maintaining our integrity.
• the stone walls are distinctive -- common, and yet each one is unique.  while categorized together by function, each and every one has its own beauty, its own setting, and its own personality.  may we similarly distinguish ourselves even though we all come from the same ground.