Evening Visit near Castle Leslie Estate
See above us a small but very brilliant moon, high in the sky, shining through the scattered clouds and onto the lake. It is a night sky, bright with stars and moonlight, a night sky that you only see in the countryside in Ireland.
The waves seen through the woods were all a ripple.
They glimmered.
And
Sparkled.
It was on such a night that I imagined as a child Joseph, Mary and the Infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt.
Joseph had been warned in a dream that King Herod was intent on killing the child and so he took the baby and Mary to safety.
King Herod the Great killed all boys under the age of two in the hope that the new Messiah would be among them.
It was a massacre of the innocent.
"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more." Matthew 2:18
It was chilly as we walked through an arched tunnel cut through the hedge. I observed a stand of tall trees like black-paper-cut-outs close by me.
The Scots pine trees are now maybe 30 metres in height.
They always give me a feeling of well being.
We had finished our meal in the comfortable old world ambience of The Hunting Lodge.
It was a pleasant two and a half hours in Conor's Bar. The milk chocolate glossy woodwork and warm, pale mustard painted walls complimented the exquisite food.
We were seated at a small, square glass-topped table. Beneath the glass on display was an arrangement of Victorian cutlery. We surmised about the handles...maybe ox horn, bovine bone, or stag antler....the larger pieces had inscribed and pierced detailing on the blade surfaces.
The silverware was of the big house era long before stainless steel flatware and later disposable plastic.....eating utensils.
Homeward bound.
A Palestine flag, on the border between the northern border towns of Emyvale and Aughnacloy, shuffles a little.
Uncomfortably.
This was normally the domain of two other conflicting flags.
I shuffle a little too.
Uncomfortably.
But helpless.
The Israeli military offensive against Rafah, Gaza's southern border town is imminent.
One million Palestinian refugees are sheltering in this area.
My great fear is that if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu's troops mount a ground assault there will be no Joseph to lead the innocent to safety.
No Egypt.
Only border patrols....and high walls with razor wire.
No room at the inn.
No wise men.
No star to follow.
A voice will be heard in Rafah, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeps for her children; as she refuses again to be consoled, because they are no more.
See above us a small but very brilliant moon, high in the sky, shining through the scattered clouds above the city. It is a night sky, bright with stars and moonlight a night sky that you only see in Palestine.
Photos:
From top:
Castle Leslie grounds: Nelius Flynn
The Flight into Egypt: Vittore Carpucchi
The Rest on The Flight into Egypt: Rembrandt van Rijn
Massacre of The Innocent: Leon Cogniet
Victorian Cutlery: Curious Atelier
A Full Moon Over Palestine:Tim Frank
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