Whaur will wae go when wae hit the road
when Lockdoon is finally ower?
Whut’s the first port o caal
when wir free as a burd
an wir steed kin laeve the stall?
East ur west, the first question,
hid’s aalwis the same
whenever wae go fur a hurl.
First time oot hid’ll hae tae be west
tae see surf an the breakers curl.
Thir’s a wealth o winderful places tae choose -
The Northside, The Whalebone, the pull o the cliffs,
a chance o a puffin still there on a ledge
ur a pickie tae scream an dive at wir haed -
tak a stick an keep back fae the edge.
The Brough wae its lighthouse will beckon is ower,
the causeway will shurly be dry,
clear watter in pools, fronds red and green,
a hermit crab craalan along -
no end o intresteen things tae be seen.
Wae’ll tramp up the path an git tae the top
an stand in the lee lukkan oot
Nutheen stands atween is an lands tae the west,
wae’ll mind sunsets an days o wir youth.
an wae’ll sit an be gled o the rest.
Then back tae the beach an doon on the sand,
shells galore tae scrobble among,
wae’ll hunt fur the ultimate prize o them aal,
the rare grottie buckie of coorse -
such a treasure in sometheen so smaal.
Wae’ll hope that this road will be first of minny,
wae stlll will hae tracks tae explore
an wae’ll champ at the bit tae set off agen -
mibbe tae Yesnaby, Marwick ur Skaill -
bit fur noo, wae chist don’t ken when.