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Poetry


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Creels 'n' Reels

By Talisker

15 March 2007

Back in safer waters.

Heave, haul MacNamara lad

the weather’s closing in

we’ll have to race for Scarinish

a race I pray we’ll win, my boy,

a race I pray we’ll win

Keep those creels a coming lad

we’ll reach the harbour yet

the lobster and the velvet crab

are playing hard to get, my boy

they’re playing hard to get

Feel the salt spray stinging lad

the gale is westerin’ in

I feel it turn nor’wester though

can feel it on my skin, my boy

d’you feel it on your skin?

I smell that Islay malt my lad

the tang is on my tongue

likewise the peat smoke swirling lad

the cottages among, my boy

and hear the gaelic sung

Well, we're home and safe lad

Let's wash an’ to the céilidh

I’ll dance the feet from Morag lad

And spin the lassies gaily, boy

I’ll spin those lassies gaily

Oli 15/03/07

Reviews

Creels 'n' Reels
Written by CliffBowes (176 comments posted) 15th March 2007

A most evocative poem Oli, beautifully written. It has the feel of an old Scottish folk song about it, I can almost hear the tune it could be set to.
It goes down well with a fine glass of peaty Lagavulin to hand.
Cheers
Cliff

Creels 'n Reels
Written by Josie (2732 comments posted) 15th March 2007

Oli, if you look at my reply to yours on my poem below, you will know for sure that I would love this poem for its rhythm and rhyme. It also is almost a song. We need to hear it read with your lovely Scottish accent to make it sound good. The children here in Ilkley have asked me to read my poems on my website (to help them with their English etc etc) - and I've done that. I've sometimes told them what went through my mind when I wrote it, or a bit about it. It would be wonderful if we could hear the voices of the great poets of the past, and to listen to them talking about how and why they wrote a particular poem. It would also be nice if we could hear the poets reading their work on this website - well, some of them anyway. This one is really one I would like to hear. One little thing I noticed (not much): Last verse, first line. Something a little different about the rhythm. Something missing. I might have put: Well, at last we're home and safe, my lad" - - - but you may not agree.

Written by Phil (6645 comments posted) 15th March 2007

Lovely. The story, the tone, the rhythm, and topped off by the refrain at the end of each verse. You really gave a sense of time and place in this.

Just one observation: I love whiskey, but Islay malts always taste of TCP to me. Mind, Im no connoisseur - I like my whiskey cheap and rough.

Phil

Written by Kathy (220 comments posted) 16th March 2007

Nice one Oli. I was there on the quayside with the wind in my hair, waiting to be spun gaily and now I'm off for a Jolly Roger!
K

Written by orangepeel (7 comments posted) 16th March 2007

I liked this; it followed in the style of the narrative folk song or sea shanty. It had all the required ingredients,a good rhythm, rhyming and the repetition of some lines. A fine effort, Have you set it to a known tune?

Written by ellipinnock (1753 comments posted) 17th March 2007

Enjoyed this Oli. Thought the penulitmate stanza particularly strong.

Elli

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