Hola from Santiago,
It has been a very wet and windy few weeks on the Camino and many, if not all, Peregrinos have battled hard to arrive here.
I had a very poor night's sleep last night (no bed bugs, probably just the rain or the neighbours :roll: ) and I woke up in the middle of the night with many thoughts going through my head about what I had experienced both working in the Pilgrims Office and whilst on the Camino, what others had told me as they arrived and what I had experienced standing watching people in and around Santiago, the office, the Cathedral, the Plaza.
Anyway some of these thoughts started to combine in my head whilst I lay awake and I ended up with a poem that I think represents what I have seen and experienced whilst walking and working with the Camino and Santiago. It may or may not represent your experience but I thought I would share it.
I met a man again today who I had seen arrive at the office about a week ago in a very emotional state and he needed to have a few moments to compose himself before entering the office for his ultimo sello. I bumped into him several times over the next few days but he had then walked out to Finisterre. I stopped him today as I walked home after work and as we chatted he said that he had, had an epiphany every day of his Camino journey. Like myself, I don't think he was religious, at least not overtly and I believe he used the word in the sense of finding pieces of the puzzle and seeing the whole picture rather than in a strictly religious sense. I may be wrong on that but I got what he meant. What is it about this Camino lark? Maybe that is why there is another forum topic about how you explain to others what the Camino is.
Anyway up, here's the poem. I hope you enjoy it.
Mig
Peregrino Tale
The rain is lashing down again
But still the Pilgrims come
Some have walked for 30 days
And rarely seen the sun
Others travelled shorter ways
To reach this mighty place
Tired, strained or battered legs
And blisters slowed their pace
But an overwhelming thought engulfed
Their mind to force them on
The pain will stay just a short while
But the joy will linger on
So to the square, the pilgrim makes
And sits or lies and stares
And feels the pulse of a million hearts
Who have also stood, just there
The tall facade of the Cathedral now
Begins to draw the Pilgrim’s mind
A tear descends from a weary eye
As the memories remind
Of their journey and their sacrifice
And their friends along the way
And the overwhelming comradeship
All combined to give this day
Into the nave for Pilgrims Mass
A time that some rejoice
Others just reflect a while
But all hear an inner voice
The Botafumeiro is hoisted up
And the Cathedral feels a hush
A very special moment
To prolong the Camino rush
But the journey isn’t quite complete
Another place in sight
Across the Praza das Praterias
Then slightly to the right
Just through the Arch and up the stairs
The journey meets its end
That final stamp and acknowledgement
From that last Camino friend
It has been a very wet and windy few weeks on the Camino and many, if not all, Peregrinos have battled hard to arrive here.
I had a very poor night's sleep last night (no bed bugs, probably just the rain or the neighbours :roll: ) and I woke up in the middle of the night with many thoughts going through my head about what I had experienced both working in the Pilgrims Office and whilst on the Camino, what others had told me as they arrived and what I had experienced standing watching people in and around Santiago, the office, the Cathedral, the Plaza.
Anyway some of these thoughts started to combine in my head whilst I lay awake and I ended up with a poem that I think represents what I have seen and experienced whilst walking and working with the Camino and Santiago. It may or may not represent your experience but I thought I would share it.
I met a man again today who I had seen arrive at the office about a week ago in a very emotional state and he needed to have a few moments to compose himself before entering the office for his ultimo sello. I bumped into him several times over the next few days but he had then walked out to Finisterre. I stopped him today as I walked home after work and as we chatted he said that he had, had an epiphany every day of his Camino journey. Like myself, I don't think he was religious, at least not overtly and I believe he used the word in the sense of finding pieces of the puzzle and seeing the whole picture rather than in a strictly religious sense. I may be wrong on that but I got what he meant. What is it about this Camino lark? Maybe that is why there is another forum topic about how you explain to others what the Camino is.
Anyway up, here's the poem. I hope you enjoy it.
Mig
Peregrino Tale
The rain is lashing down again
But still the Pilgrims come
Some have walked for 30 days
And rarely seen the sun
Others travelled shorter ways
To reach this mighty place
Tired, strained or battered legs
And blisters slowed their pace
But an overwhelming thought engulfed
Their mind to force them on
The pain will stay just a short while
But the joy will linger on
So to the square, the pilgrim makes
And sits or lies and stares
And feels the pulse of a million hearts
Who have also stood, just there
The tall facade of the Cathedral now
Begins to draw the Pilgrim’s mind
A tear descends from a weary eye
As the memories remind
Of their journey and their sacrifice
And their friends along the way
And the overwhelming comradeship
All combined to give this day
Into the nave for Pilgrims Mass
A time that some rejoice
Others just reflect a while
But all hear an inner voice
The Botafumeiro is hoisted up
And the Cathedral feels a hush
A very special moment
To prolong the Camino rush
But the journey isn’t quite complete
Another place in sight
Across the Praza das Praterias
Then slightly to the right
Just through the Arch and up the stairs
The journey meets its end
That final stamp and acknowledgement
From that last Camino friend
