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 The Passage To Skerryvore

 

Leaving Oban Bay behind

And the shelter of Kerrera’s shore

Into the bitter cold Atlantic

Where the birds are free to soar

 

Now passing the Islands of the Sea

As we head out to our goal

Islay ,Jura ,Scarba and Colonsay

Ancient lands of men so bold

 

Twinkling stars and glowing moon

Reflect upon the sea

Dubh Artach sends it’s warning light

For all around to see

 

As we round the Torran Rocks

Where wrecks and seamen lay

Steaming hard to reach our goal

Before the break of day

 

The silver glow of moonlight

Gently lights Iona’s strand

Where ancient kings lie buried

Beneath her rolling land

 

With the Isle of Mull our backdrop

In the frosty starlit skies

The Treshnish Isles way to the North

As ancient  Staffa passes by

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

 

The flash of white from a passing gull

Flying with grace and so free

Then from out of the glowing moonlight

The shadows of Coll and Tiree

 

Our passage goes on to the North West

As we speed on to beat  the day’s  break

The sweep of a light crosses our bow

On this ocean so wide and so great

 

As daylight appears far off to our East

The birds start to answer their call

Then starkly the lighthouse called Skerryvore

Appears like a sentinel tall

 

Stuck on the rocks with reefs all around

As the swell now rolls in from the West

Battered by long winter storms and gales

These grey walls have long stood the test

 

          Time is the enemy all fishermen know

This beauty all passing him by

Taking for granted these wonders around

The land, sea our earth and the sky

 

Many a time this journey I’ve made

Now retired I am stuck on the shore

But the memories and beauty come back to my mind

Of  the passage to  grey Skerryvore