A Requiem for the Islands

A Requiem for the Islands

A Poem by Ken Simm.
"

For Iain who sailed there.

"

A colour

A chord

A chant in the light

A storm breaking slowly across a singing sky

Piano rain pressing this land and sea

Into the voyages of a personal history

Weeping tears that are lost across the windowed face

Of one that was loved

Coloured glass breaking the hearts

And missed fears

That are collected in a shining thought

Draped in these ripple textured liquids

And the sodden linens held in trembling hands

 

Looking for a pencil steeple

From a sea of whales

And other mysteries

Where we once played drunk

And cast our minds to ancient islands

Lost within the cries of seabirds

Flying across the chapel coves of our rest

And strange laughter

That long echoed the cliffs

And cut the waves from us

As we dove beneath them

Linking us to the past

In this beautiful place

Of water and mountain

Of light and wind sea spume

Of ruined dun and standing stones

That sang

When touched

By a true hand

And collected memories

Into them

For the one left behind.

 

© 2013 Ken Simm.


Author's Note

Ken Simm.
Once upon a time we sailed around the Hebrides. Dervaig church on the island of Mull has a pencil steeple. The photograph is mine and called Light in the Islands.

My Review

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Featured Review

Your words always capture your photographs and painting to perfection, these brush strokes upon your page take me to far off mystical places Ken....

Looking for a pencil steeple
From a sea of whales
And other mysteries
Where we once played drunk

Always a grand vision from your pen my friend.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

The pencil steeple is in a place called Dervaig on the island of Mull in the Hebrides Frieda. Where .. read more



Reviews

This is both enchanting and lyrically beautiful poetry. You brought the sights, the sounds, the collected memories, vividly to life.

In the late sixties, my father sailed the Kyle of Lochalsh in Ravelin, an ocean going racing yacht owned by the Corp of Royal Engineers. I showed him this poem last night and he loved it, as did I.

There is much treasure to be found in the back pages of Writer's cafe.

Beccy.

Posted 9 Years Ago


Ken Simm.

9 Years Ago

Thank you to both you and your Father for the looking and liking Beccy. I was all over the islands a.. read more
Your words draw images of verdant, abandoned, and lonely worlds. I recalled the Bird ascending by Ralph Vaughn Williams as I read your poetry. This is beautiful. Thank you.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Henryglass

11 Years Ago

LoL. I wrote the bird ascending. Who's your favorite composer?
Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

I have many. But Vaughn Williams ranks up at the top.
Henryglass

11 Years Ago

Mine would be Bach. You know Andreas Scholl?
Your words always capture your photographs and painting to perfection, these brush strokes upon your page take me to far off mystical places Ken....

Looking for a pencil steeple
From a sea of whales
And other mysteries
Where we once played drunk

Always a grand vision from your pen my friend.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

The pencil steeple is in a place called Dervaig on the island of Mull in the Hebrides Frieda. Where .. read more
how lovely this moody photograph it would look gorgeous painted in inks, it is very inspiring and i promise not to copy it...lol

A very soulful poem full of longing for what is past.. full of mystery and beautiful friendships.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

Thank you Stella for the lovely review. You can copy if you wish.
Stella Armour

11 Years Ago

it would only be for my own personal use.. thank you ken...
I love the descriptions of this magical time and place, you have captured them so beautifully, the picture is gorgeous and rivaled only by your words.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

I'm glad you like them both Corset. Much appreciated.
Such heady resonance in this piece. I can taste the salt spray and see the dance of light and wave as I read this. Just beautiful

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

Thank you Tammy. Lots of good memories.
This is a moment in time piece... I love all of the images, which read almost like a list in some ways, but I enjoyed it in that form. I loved the picture, and I think you have truly captured something here that is a journey of sorts.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

It does, you are right sound like a list. Good and bad memories. Thank you my friend.
Beautiful heartfelt words of reverence in this bittersweet piece accompanied by your amazing photo of tranquility...Rose

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

I thought I had answered this lovely comment Rose but it seems I hadn't, my apologies and sincere th.. read more
Your photographs are breathtaking, Ken. I have told you about my interest in The Hebrides. This tribute to 'Iain' is a lovely one. We carry memories inside, always. You spill your thoughts so beautifully. I am sure Iain knows. Angi~

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Angi

11 Years Ago

You are welcome, Ken. I hope I get to see them, too.
Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

There is a BBC series airing over here at the moment called, Hebrides, Islands on the Edge. Its one .. read more
Angi

11 Years Ago

Oh! Thank you for the head's up! I will look for it.
I can see why you....and Iain....loved this place....on the face of it, hard and unyielding, borne of the struggle against the elements, but full of the beauty of the austere. You`ve recreated the essential emotion Iain must have felt, Ken. P.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Ken Simm.

11 Years Ago

When Iain died we went out whale watching in his boat. We found some too. A couple of Minke whales i.. read more

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738 Views
13 Reviews
Added on August 5, 2013
Last Updated on August 5, 2013
Tags: islands, sea, coast, sailing, friends, church, death, love, landscapes, seascape, mountains.

Author

Ken Simm.
Ken Simm.

Scotland, United Kingdom



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'I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I knew as well. Unfortunately, I am confined to this theme by the narrowness of my experience' Thoreau. For all those who .. more..

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