This magnificent ruined abbey is situated in the picturesque village of New Abbey, near Dumfries, in South West Scotland. Sweetheart Abbey (Dulce Cor) was founded in 1273 by Dervorguilla de Baliol in memory of her husband John (d1268). His embalmed heart, in a casket, was buried with her when she died in 1290. The remains of an effigy of Dervorguilla, bearing the casket, can still be seen in the south transept chapel.
Quiet voices drift like ghosts around this broken abbey. Sweetheart still speaks, still touches, this place can never be empty.
Dulce Cor, the name whispers above the effigy of Dervoguilla, clasping her casket close to her stone-still heart, embalming a love forever.
All walls tumble in the end, but enough remains here, to remind us of the old truth, that it is in the breaking, that our hearts are heard the most.
I am a photographer/ poet from Dumfries in South West Scotland. I concentrate on minimalist images and prefer using an iPhone these days. As far as my writing is concerned, I usually write short poems (some in Scots dialect), hence my interest in haiku and related forms.
"the Beatles didn't 'ave a monopoly on love, no-one does. It doesn't belong to John Lennon, it doesn't belong to Janis, it doesn't even belong to Jesus, love belongs to all of us. It's something we're all supposed to share," - Ami Bane, Pearls on the Road
Poetry and Prose by #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, Co-Author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and Jan/Feb 2022 Spillwords Press Author of the Month
"I have enough time to rest, but I don't have a minute to waste". Come and catch me with your wise words and we will have some fun with our words of wisdom.
"the Beatles didn't 'ave a monopoly on love, no-one does. It doesn't belong to John Lennon, it doesn't belong to Janis, it doesn't even belong to Jesus, love belongs to all of us. It's something we're all supposed to share," - Ami Bane, Pearls on the Road
Poetry and Prose by #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, Co-Author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and Jan/Feb 2022 Spillwords Press Author of the Month
Beautiful, Derek. Starts us thinking about St Valentine’s Day, too.
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Thanking you. It’s our 41st wedding anniversary today! Maybe had something to do with it,
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Happy Anniversary!
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That last stanza went straight to the heart.
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Fabulous last verse Derek, you capture the quality of the place so well.
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