Time circles

Mirknen haps a rummelled broch 
on Houlland’s knowe, rowes hit 
in a twilt o lavendar: saft smored 
as a Danish Hjøllund a year ago. 
Da line o da prow is sib 
an da soonds on da tongue, but 
dis laand canna scoarn da forest, 
fat byres an grit rigs o coarn. 
Here hit’s a tooder o hedder 
an da mintiest flooers. Fae da broch 
da Wastside raiks aa aroond: 
Eid Voe spörs ta da nort, 
bi wast, a headicraa ta Burrafirt, 
ta Foula an Waas. Soothbye, 
a vire o voes at Sandsoond 
an Skeld - Skjáldr o da sagas. 
A year is come richt roond. 
I da simmir dim, sungaets, 
we mark da rim o da broch 
– time circles: walk da mairches 
o a twalmont gien. 

Christine De Luca

 from Wast wi da Valkyries (Lerwick: Shetland Library, 1997)