Gaan Wae the Wind As Orcadians, wur weel wint wae the wind. Forivvir aboot- hands, hids changin mood and strength shapes whit a day might lukk like. A risin wind closes schools, hindirs fokk fae gittan tae thir wark, and renders lifeline services, lifeless. A settled day is aisy; planes and botts cairtin fokk and […]
Gaan Wae the Wind by Marlyn Firth Read More »
Hearth (All I ever wanted was to be able to swim) All I ever wanted was to be able to swim. I wanted to swim because no one could ever have taught me to swim. It was only me and mum – taking footsteps along the coastline, dipping ourselves into the cold water, moving our
Hearth (All I ever wanted was to be able to swim) by Sheridan Povedano Read More »
Midsummer I sit, wide-awake, at someungodly hour It’s midsummer, the middle of the night, yet it’s asbright as midday on a dull winter’s day I gaze at the Graemsay lighthousein my direct line of vision, counting how many secondseach gleam lastsand wondering if I’m going to get any more sleep tonight.
Midsummer by Lucy Aslop Read More »
Orkney Islands Orkney Islands Blue skies, sea air and fertile rolling plainsBlazing sun, storm force winds or soft refreshing rain Long summer light till midnight when golfers play our courseOne of the many sports out there all available to source If you want to study trees maybe Orkney’s not for youJust come and visit anyhow,
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Fiddle I stand and stare at the instrument so like my own yet so different. The clock ticks as I stand and gaze at the workmanship. Gifted by a friend. Did you ever play? Did you take it on your travels? 200 years after your birth it is played on your birthday. “Air for Dr
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Model of a Man They stare without seeing, the unblinking eyes. Frozen in time. Did this ever happen? Did the waves crash and the sea blow? We will never know.
Model of a Man by Barney Clark Read More »
Black Rat Tiny hands, tiny ears, tiny feet, tiny tail. Your name is deceiving for your fur is not black. From Westray to mainland on a wrecked cargo boat. A pest? No.
Black Rat by Barney Clark Read More »
The Great Auk Papay-1813 The last in Britain was born here. The last in Britain lived here. The last in Britain slept here. The last in Britain Died here, shot for a collector in London. 31 years later Great auks are extinct.
The Great Auk by Barney Clark Read More »
Salt in wir bluid Beann an Orcadian means yir born wae salt in yir bluid. Yir face is washed by both the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, and somedays ye can taste thim on yir lips. Wir surrounded by th sea and hid impacts on wir life in many wais. Maistly the impact is
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Cycle Snipe Entwined with the wind is the sound of the snipe. I have heard it louder, but today it is on the edge of the soundscape, caught up in the wind like a piece of sound flotsam. I am out cycling and have stopped just to let the sounds sink in. Sometimes when I
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