St Cuthbert's Final Journey
Following 9th century monks as they flee from invading vikings with the body of St Cuthbert and the Lindisfarne Gospels – and undertake a momentous journey that helps shape England
Vernal Equinox…a poem by Alan O’Cain
The following poem was written by Alan O’Cain after the St Cuthbert’s Day Walk on March 20th 2013. March 20th was not only St Cuthbert’s Day – it was Vernal Equinox too. Before the poem (received with love and thanks), here’s a short description of what ‘vernal equinox’ means…
“Every year the earth goes once around the Sun; that is, after all, the definition of a year. The earth spins on its axis, and the axis happens to be tilted about 23.5 degrees relative to earth’s orbital plane. As a result, sometimes the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun and sometimes the southern hemisphere tilts toward the sun. The change isn’t severe, but it is enough to cause the seasons. When the north is tilting toward the sun we generally experience warmer weather in the north. When the south is tilted toward the sun then the southern hemisphere generally experiences the warmer weather.
As the earth revolves around the sun there are two moments (not whole days) of the year when the sun is exactly above the equator. At these times neither pole tilts toward the sun. These moments are called “equinoxes”. One occurs in March as the northern hemisphere starts to tilt toward the sun. In the north, that equinox is called the “vernal, or spring equinox”, the beginning of spring.”
Photography © Paul Alexander Knox
Vernal Equinox
Where were you
As we talked of otters
(In the snow)
On Finchale bridge?
Where were you
As we counted
Sleeping knights
In Chester church?
Where were you
As we slouched
By Cuthbert’s bones?
Where were you?
Like the otter
That we never glimpsed,
Like the knights
Who lay uncounted;
Like the tomb
Of ice that
Vanished with
The winter thaw
Where were you?
March 22, 2013
© Alan O’Cain 2013
St Cuthbert's Final Journey 
What a wonderful poem to celebrate the St Cuthbert’s Day Walk.
What a beautiful poem Alan – thanks for sharing it.
Alan, that is so lovely. Deep. Linking arms on Finchale Bridge and celebrating our Wear, was a very special moment. Thank you for sharing your soul.
And bloomin’ ‘eck, I didn’t realise it was the Vernal Equinox! Thank you Richard, Alan, Juliet and Maggie. Without all of you all this would have passed unnoticed. xxxx