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Islands in Literature

The cool Spring days remind me of a visit to the Isle of Harris, one of the islands in the Scottish Outer Hebrides.

Isle of Harris, Scotland

In order to reach the turquoise beach
An obstacle course over a rocky terrain
Needs to be climbed
The path leads along the cliff edge
Amongst the purple heather and dainty wild flowers

Bare bald slabs of gray
Rocks imbedded in the mountain side
Black peat beds at least a metre thick
Spikey grass, yellow buttercups
Red deer sighted, peering at us

Heavenward the eagles fly
Owning the sky
We traced the road down to the beach
A difficult single track
Blotted with hardy sheep and indifferent highland cattle

Jellyfish, small and pink rest on the sand
Discarded strands of bubby seaweed
Dead cormorant wash shoreward
In this remote desolation
Even beauty exists

Mary Brailsford

August, 2022

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