You are unique Shetland
You are a crisp cold day
Making me shiver from my nose to my toes
As I walk over the hill.
You are the peerie* colourful Puffin (peerie-small in Shetland dialect)
Standing in its cliff-edge burrow
Waiting for its mum to return with its dinner.
You are the purple heather
Clinging beautifully to the hill
As I run and roll down it.
You are the shiny silvery moon and the twinkling stars
Shining in the pitch black sky
Out of my bedroom window.
You are the cold wet sand
Getting washed by the
Stormy grey sea.
You are the playful snow white lambs
Jumping around in the green park
Making the most of the long midsummer.
You are the beautiful green Mirrie Dancers* (Aurora Borealis in Shetland dialect)
Dancing across the midnight sky
Putting on a show for those below.
You are the smooth round pebbles
Getting kicked around by the sea
Waiting to be picked up and taken home by me.
You are the fierce lashing wild wind
Throwing up seawater on our windows
While we are trying to sleep.
You are an interesting rock pool
Bursting with creatures like crabs and starfish
Waiting for me to come and explore you.
You are the elegant elusive Orca
Gliding through the deep blue sea
All the way from Iceland to come and visit me.
You are unique Shetland
I can’t wait for my next adventure with you.
By Isla
Pie asked his good friend Duncan Chisholm (one of Scotland’s most well known and recognised fiddle players) to record a piece to go with this poem. Here’s what Duncan said:
“I spread out the lines a little, laid over some Shetland beach sounds and recorded a Shetland air called ‘Leaving Lerwick Harbour’…..hope it’s ok!!”
Have a listen to Isla’s poem with Duncan performing alongside her:
This is a fantastic poem, Isla. I’ve learned some new words! The description of the Aurora Borealis as “Mirrie Dancers” seems so apt! I do hope you can write more on the blog and I will look forward to learning more words in the Shetland dialect.
Wow! I loved your poem, Isla! I loved learning some of your Shetland words, and I am going to share your poem with my daughter (she’s 6) tomorrow and I am absolutely sure she will love it too.
The way you described your life in the island helped me see it in my mind, and think how lovely it would be to see the orcas come, or explore the rock pools.
How long have you been writing poetry? Do you have any tips for my daughter?
Hello Isla,
What a beautiful expression of
Shetland’s uniqueness and what our islands mean to those of us lucky to live here. As the LINK orca species champion I especially love that you weaved them into your poem. Please continue with your writing. It’s so creative and quite wonderful.
With best wishes.
Beatrice
Beautiful poem Isla. You are very talented and have put in your poem all the things I too love about Shetland. We are so lucky to live here.
You are some wordsmith Isla! X
Isla your poem is beautiful! Well done for producing something as lively as this!
And I did mean lovely!
I really enjoyed your poem Isla! That was fantastic! Really good descriptions and some fancy words. I could imagine myself at every place you mentioned. Thankyou
Just finished reading your wonderful poem Isla. You truly brought to life everything about life in Shetland. I will have to let your cousins read it.
I ken that your Granny and Grandad will be very proud of you.
I do hope that we will be able to get back home to see you later this year and experience once more some of the wonderful things you describe in your poem.
Vivian
Love your poem Isla. Beautiful description of your lovely homeland.
Dear Isla,
What a beautiful poem. Your words sum up Shetland and make me want to come and visit again. Keep writing! Your creativity will surely inspire others to grab a pencil and jot down their thoughts. Very well done.
Suzanne (your mum’s friend)
Hi Isla,
Reading your poem brought me back to Shetland and I can see the rock pools at Aith and the peerie Puffin at
Sumburgh. A truly wonderful poem as I can just imagine myself there.
Well done Isla. Great description of all the special things about Shetland. Keep writing ,you have great talent.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow Isla, what a fantastic poem.
Hello Isla
Whit a brilliant poem, joost sums up Shetland perfectly and all da adventures you hav living here – we ir so lucky tae live here.
Keep on writing – Weel done.
Love Sharon x
Well done Isla. Brilliant use of language, and you included so many aspects of Shetland.
Isla, your poem was wonderful. It reminds me of what I can see when I return to Shetland. The sights, sounds, and feelings are very well described. Makes me want to be there.
So well done Isla. Great to hear it with the music .