May 27th

 

Cuckoo well you sing

sumer is icumen in

queen of May renewed

Heard my first cuckoo of the year today, quite late compared to other years. That’s not to say they haven’t been around, it’s just I haven’t heard them.

Co-incidentally it’s also Christopher Lee’s 90th birthday today. Made me think of the ending of the Wicker Man, where he (Lord Summerisle) and his islanders sing a version of the old English jolly tune “Sumer is icumen in”. I wont spoil the ending if you haven’t seen the film, but youtube conveniently has the fittingly chilling finale (and the song I’m on about here).

The song cites cuckoo’s too. Quite apt! And I do it homage in my Haiku today.

(from rspb website)

February 15th

 

The landlords daughter,

Siren song, pray, deny her,

Willing fool ablaze.

 

I read a news story today that the Hotel / Bar where many scenes of the Wicker Man were filmed is up for sale (the original version from 1973, not the abomination “starring” Nicholas Cage). For only £200k you can own a piece of classic British horror film history, the Ellangowan Hotel in Creetown, Dumfries and Galloway.

Where Britt Ekland tried to entice Christian copper Edward Woodward into her bed with her sexy pagan incantation and dance. And where the bawdy bar scenes were filmed.

What a film, not gory, just incredibly unsettling. Proper psychological horror. The ending fills me with dread every time. If you haven’t seen it… you should! It’s probably my favourite film ever.

The beautiful Britt Ekland, temptress in the film.

The increasingly marginalised and bewildered Edward Woodward, the Christian policeman sent to investigate the disappearance of a child on the remote Scottish Island of Summerisle.

Lord Summerisle, played by Christopher Lee in the frightening final scenes of the film. The impassive and faceless Wicker Man looms menacingly in the background.