Learning

Last evening, I met Kevin MacNeil, writer, poet, screen writer and spoken word artist, who rebooted the fire of writing and showed me again the power of words.

George Mackay Brown, adds considerable heft to the well known John Donne quote

“No man is an island and all that we ever say or think or do - however seemingly unremarkable - may yet set the whole web of existence trembling and affect the living and the dead and the unborn’

Scottish poet, author and dramatist Brown is regarded as one of the finest writers of the 20th century. Reclusive Orcadien, Brown was born, ‘the sixth child of a postman and tailor, into a family so poor that he and his siblings ran through the Orkney summers barefoot.’ (Maggie Ferguson, Spectator June 2021)

I wonder - was there some joy rather than overriding poverty running through those barefoot summers? Straight away, many questions, but for now - a poem.

Beachcomber by George Mackay Brown

Monday I found a boot -

rust salt and leather.

I gave it back to the sea, to dance in

Tuesday a spar of timber worth thirty bob.

Next winter

it will be a chair, a coffin, a bed.

Wednesday a half can of Swedish spirits.

I tilted my head.

The shore was cold with mermaids and angels.

Thursday i got nothing, seaweed,

a whale bone,

wet feet and a loud cough.

Friday I held a seaman’s skull,

sand spilling from it

The waytime is told on kirkyard stones.

Saturday a barrel of sodden oranges

A spanish ship

was wrecked last month at The Kame

Sunday, for fear of the elders,

I sit on my bum.

What’s heaven? A sea chest with a thousand gold coins.