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| CC image from James Stringer |
GRANDFATHER
Grey rocks
on green grass – a long long time ago
You walked
the misty coastline – on a lonely distant shore
‘Twixt home
and school and church yard – you felt the sea’s soft spray
On lonely
Eriskay
Your
children growing older – you think of far away
Did you ever
think Australia - as you gazed out on the sea?
Could we
leave this lonely isle – this land so far away?
Our
windswept Eriskay
Grandfather
– you never knew my name
Grandfather
– you died before I came
In the
church upon the hillside – you sit silently in prayer
The wind was
blowing stronger – you knew you had to go
Tears of
salt roll down your face – you must leave your island home
Farewell
dear Eriskay
Grandfather
– we never shared a dawn
Grandfather
– you died before I came
Is there a
part of you I might find in Eriskay?
Is there a
part of you - is there a part of you in me
To take back
to Eriskay?
Commentary
I have long been fascinated by the story of my paternal grandparents who lived on Eriskay in the early part of the 20th century and then migrated to an equally remote place in rural South Australia. My paternal grandfather died before I was born. There is no recording of this song yet but it will come .....
