The ruins of Polmaddy, a traditional Galloway ferm-toun (farming village), can still be seen in a clearing of Castlemaddy Wood (just of the A713 nr Carsphairn). Changes in farming in the 18th and 19th centuries led to the abandonment of many such small farm villages in the area. The earliest reference to Polmaddy was in the 16th centur
Absences If words have ghosts, they are wandering these fields, whispering of an absent town and lives that could last no longer. If names have hearts, Polmaddy's has been broken by the bitterest cut of all. It lost its reason to be. If stones have souls, then let these ones rest in peace. They had their time, let them settle into the earth of their story
Polmaddy Polmaddy, stones in an open field, Braille for a low sun’s fingers, waiting For the light to trace it’s pages. There’s the pack road, almost rubbed out, And there, the inn, the house of stories. That thin line, the mill race where water flowed To turn the wheel that fed them all. Two houses side by side, to share Warmth and the gossip of the day. Here and there, clearance cairns, where fields Were opened and furrows written. Now the sun goes down, closing The covers on another day, leaving Only silence and words in the dark.
Photos-Poems-Haiku 
Reblogged this on Art, Photography and Poetry.
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Hi, Derek.Wow! thanks for sharing another set of beautifully penned poems; and, supported by such a stunning set of images. I have re-blogged. Have a great day.
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Really appreciate your support!
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My pleasure. Great Writing. Great Photography. Have a wonderful day.
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Your poems really struck a chord because we have the same evidence of abandoned farms and villages in New Hampshire and Vermont–although the landscape is very different from that of your haunting photographs.
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Thanks Liz and greetings from Scotland. there are plenty ruins in this country (myself included)! This part of Scotland suffered from the Lowland Clearances which were just as devastating as the Highland Clearances which are more famous. I’ll Google your part of the world for these abandoned villages etc, sounds interesting.
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You’re welcome, Derek! It’s good to meet you. If you Google “abandoned New Hampshire,” that will bring you some.
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It’s been a few years since I last visited Polmaddy – you’ve captured the atmosphere beautifully.
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Thanks again Mary. These are obviously pics taken before lockdown! If I could find out how to re-blog, I’d certainly pass on your blogs.
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