Remembering Orkney by Norman Holland

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REMEMBERING ORKNEY. By Norman Holland. CC. 1952

Whenever I think of Orkney
And I shall think of Orkney often,
It will be with acutest nostalgia,
For closing my eyes
I shall see again
The winding road
Beside the sea.
The winding road which sees
The dauntless islands
Fronting the stormy waters
With their everlasting challenge.
The winding road which passes
The little greystone houses,
Where I have sat
Beside the peat fires
And talked with a people
Who were friendly and understanding
As my own.
Whenever the wind
Blows from the north
Or the rain
Hurls long silver lances
Against the earth,
I shall be away
From my people
And I shall be walking
Among heather-covered hills
And hearing the little streams
Hurrying to the sea;
Or I shall be watching
The Atlantic
With snarling white teeth bared,
Leaping up the high cliffs,
And retreating,
Only to snarl and leap again !
And I shall smile
A special secret smile
Remembering,
The courage and the patience
That I found here.
I shall be heartened
For my own task
And take my way
Comforted and friended !