Four Hours

 

The day broke calm,the sun rose up

A licht win’ fae the east,

The sky a seec, bricht orange

Twis a warnin’ nane wid heed

 

 

Wi’ sails hised up and oars at han’

They headed oot tae sea

Little did these brave men ken

In four oors they a’ wid dee

 

 

Wi’ lines and hooks a’ cast

Intae a growin’ brekin sea

Their only hope o’ shelter

Lay in the Hythe’s shore lee

 

 

Strainin’ and pullin’ on the oars

Against the win’ and tide

Sails blown oot, an’ shoothers sair

They had nae wye noo tae hide

 

 

The win’ noo shifts in tae the West

Wi’ a huge almichty roar

Wives and bairnies winnerin’

Will they iver reach the shore?

 

 

Ane by ane the boats are swamped

As men cry in despair

Wives turn awa’ and comfort bairns

Their hearts noo sad and sair

 

 

Twa hunner years have noo gone past

Since that sad and fateful morn

And through time, mony fowk have had

This reason tae weep and mourn

 

 

A fishin’ community decimated

By natures fickle way

And even with man’s ingenuity

It’s still happenin’ today

 

 

Jim Campbell