I’ve been very good at going out whatever the weather and I might manage a stroll yet, but so far I’m resisting the lure of wind and rain(!) and I’m researching some readings for our concert in Merstham, Surrey.
Here’s a beautiful poem in the Shetland dialect by Jack Renwick which perfectly describes the waters between the islands of Unst and Yell when I travelled to Sumburgh to pick Lillie. You can read this and find out more about Shetland’s distinctive dialect here.
WINTER COMES IN
Winter Comes In – Jack Renwick. The onset of winter at Bluemull Sound.
Winter Comes InGrey dawn brakkin ower troubled watters,
Da Soond laek a burn wi da rip o da tide;
Da Mull, black an grim, ida first o da daylicht
Wi da sea brakkin white on his nortmast side.
Yowes kruggin closs ida lee o a daek-end,
Creepin frae a chill at bites ta da bon;
Solan an scarf aa wirkin inshore,
A sign at da best o da wadder is don.
Hail sheetin doon wi a Nort wind ahint it,
Blottin oot laand an sea frae da scene,
An iron coortin closin ower aa thing:
Winter has come ta da islands ageen.
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