The Cavehill Short Story



The Cavehill

Here I am sipping a pink grapefruit and green coffee Vital drink on ice. I’m sitting in The Cat Garden in the grounds of Belfast Castle within The Cavehill Country Park in North Belfast. The sun is hot on my skin so I am glad of the refreshing drink quenching my thirst. I look across to Belfast Lough. The lough is calm today and a deep blue. The sky is a beautiful light blue and all is well. The castle is just behind me. Childhood memories come to my mind of my brother and I getting our photo taken on the steps of the castle. Happy days!

As I look across Belfast Lough I see a large cruise ship. No doubt tourists coming to see the sights of Belfast. I close my eyes and I hear bird song.  The woodpigeon is the loudest with her coo coo coo coo coo. I also hear the wind gently blowing as well as the noise of the cars down below on the road. I see farmland across the water and one field where the soil has been turned over. I see a little pied wagtail on the ground beside me. Her tail bobbing about. I walk to the herb garden and start to smell the herbs. Smells of lavender and lemon balm fill my nostrils. Then I decide to go for a walk in the wooded area and go deeper into the Cavehill.

The Cavehill is a beautiful, majestic hill. The outline of the hill is like the side of a man’s face and is known to the locals as Napoleon’s Nose. It is spring and there are many wild flowers around. I see a carpet of English bluebells, swaying in the wind and dancing like fair maidens at a ball. I see the wild garlic, with its white star shaped flowers and broad green leaves. I rub my fingers on the leaves and smell the garlic on my fingers. The birds are singing all around me. This hill brings me joy and peace. It is filled with childhood memories – mostly of my dad. I remember when we ran into the swarm of bees. Thankfully my siblings and I were fine. Dad climbed into all five caves in the hill when he was a young man of nineteen. He often told the story down through the years. He was lucky he did not fall off the hill or I would not have been here to author this story.

In the 1800s the hill was used as farmland and sheep would graze on the hill. From the 1880s deciduous and coniferous trees were planted. As I walk through the wooded area I see little streams bubbling with white frothy water. The sight of the froth makes me thirsty. It is a hot day and I have been walking quite a bit. I then head for home.

About this poem

This is not a poem but a short story about a hill near where I live in North Belfast. It is a beautiful wild area that I love to go and visit regularly. Kim

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Written on May 11, 2024

Submitted by Blossoming on May 11, 2024

2:27 min read
18

Quick analysis:

Scheme X X X X
Characters 2,456
Words 492
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 1, 1, 1, 1

Kimberley Hamilton

New poet just starting out. Kim Hamilton is from Belfast in Northern Ireland. Loves nature and poems on faith. more…

All Kimberley Hamilton poems | Kimberley Hamilton Books

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2 Comments
  • Kshetrapal
    Very good . A picturesque view of the landscape. Kshetrapal
    LikeReply 113 days ago
    • hamiltonkim03
      thank you. I know this platform is for poems but as I am also doing an online creative writing course on Nature I like to upload it here as I've got it typed up. The Cavehill is just fifteen minutes walk from me and a beautiful place to walk in Belfast. One of Belfast's famous beauty spots. Kim  
      LikeReply 112 days ago
    • Kshetrapal
      Thanks.

      I sensed it while reading the cavehill.

      Thank you.Kim
      LikeReply 112 days ago
    • hamiltonkim03
      LikeReply12 days ago
  • AIDA
    This poem 'The Cavehill Short Story' beautifully captures the essence of The Cavehill Country Park in North Belfast. The vivid descriptions of the surroundings, the sounds of nature, and the memories of the past all contribute to creating a rich and immersive reading experience.

    The imagery of the wild flowers, the aroma of herbs, and the sights and sounds of the hill make the reader feel as if they are right there with the author, experiencing the beauty and tranquility of The Cavehill. The personal anecdotes and memories shared add depth and emotion to the poem, making it relatable and engaging.

    To enhance the poem further, you could consider delving deeper into the emotions and feelings evoked by The Cavehill. Explore how being in this environment makes you feel, and how it has impacted your life. You could also experiment with different poetic devices, such as metaphors or symbolism, to add layers of meaning to your writing.

    Overall, 'The Cavehill Short Story' is a delightful and enchanting piece that celebrates the beauty of nature and the memories that shape us. Your descriptive language and personal reflections create a vivid and heartfelt portrayal of The Cavehill – a place that clearly holds a special significance for you. Wonderful work! Keep writing and sharing your stories with the world.
     
    LikeReply13 days ago

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"The Cavehill Short Story" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/187524/the-cavehill-short-story>.

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