Stones: a poem about dry stone walling

Stones
by Malcolm Corps, Wensleydale

Upon this land so lovely, and plain for us to see, are walls that have been built by man, over many a century. Not only do they do a job to hold the farmers stock, but I find a natural beauty in every single rock.

Broad bottoms with a narrow top and “Capping Stones” to boot, and some with styles within their length, to help walkers on their route. They are a thing of natural forms, put together just by man, working at one with nature in every way he can.

I think that’s why they look so good, they are from where they came, they’ve just been moved about a bit, to make an enclosure or a lane.
I wish I’d been a Waller when I left those days of school, with work a plenty everywhere, and you don’t need many tools!

I’ve always wanted to have a go, at building dry stone walls, and not to work within constraints, but just where nature calls.
I’ve built a wall in my garden and built a large pond too, I have to say they don’t look bad, cos I didn’t have a clue.

A friend once said “just bang em on” but for me that just won’t do, there’s a place for every single stone, especially the “Through”
Without that stone so nicely placed you’ll come to realise, it won’t look as good or last as long, and meet with its demise.

Don’t forget your “Grunders” the most important stones, the base for you to build upon, and yes!  they’ll make you groan.
To get them just, in the right place, is really quite a task, but will they hold your wall up?
You need not really ask!

Oh! Don’t forget those “Fillers” that hold the wall within, get rid of all those “Dogheads”, whether fat or thin.
Those stones that have no clear shape, the really awkward bits, they’ll all go in there somewhere and everyone will fit.

“Risers” are above the base, the ones you build up on, to gain some height and keep it tight help moving things along.
And don’t forget each stone of course, yes it has a “Face”, you must use this for a pleasing look, which can, slow down your pace.

But when you’re finished and you stand back and see what you’ve just done, you can take a sense of pride in it, and  “When it’s done, it’s DONE!!”