ARGYLL-BASED Rebecca Pine annually produces an original poetry diary with a poem for each month. Here are two of her verse offerings from last year’s publication.
OBAN IN FEBRUARY
A trip to Oban is a joy in Spring
but when the dregs of Winter linger on
and squalls of sleet and slushy water bring,
the whole wide harbour hides beneath the dull
morass from Kerrera to brooding Mull.
Quite soon the sun breaks through, and where it shone
on berth of ferry boat or haunt of gull
the harbour bursts into a wild chaconne
of activeness. The very sirens sing
their joy of sailing. Water is the thing!
And then beyond the bustle comes the lull
when food or entertainment is the king –
and opera perhaps – how wonderful!
Too soon the hills again; the light is gone,
but through the night a day to think upon.
CAMPBELTOWN IN MARCH
To Campbeltown we had proposed to go
but like a lion March came roaring in
and with it bought a storm of swirling snow
which looked attractive on the fields and trees
but brought the morning traffic to its knees.
No place to move to; no way to begin
our journey. Frozen road and snow-filled breeze
Said ‘Not today!’ and we were locked within.
But two days is a world of weather, so
with sun on board we took it at the flow.
Our business done and time to take our ease,
a ploughman’s lunch – a dish to match the show.
Around the alcove such good men as these –
A thousand years of Campbeltown therein.
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