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Cokkils

Sydney Goodsir Smith

Doun through the sea
Continuallie
A rain o’ cokkils, shells
Rains doun
Frae the ceaseless on-ding
O’ the reefs abune
Continuallie.

Slawlie through millenia
Biggan on the ocean bed
Their ain subaqueous Himalaya
Wi a fine white rain o’ shells
Faa’an continuallie
Wi nae devall.

Sae, in my heid as birdsang
Faas throu simmer treen
Is the thocht o’ my luve
Like the continual rain
O’ cokkils throu the middle seas
Wi nae devall –
The thocht o’ my true-luve
Continuallie.


Sydney Goodsir Smith

from Cokkils (1953), and included in Collected Poems 1941-1975 (John Calder, 1975)

(c) Calder Publications 1975, 2010. Reproduced by permission of One World Classics.

Tags:

evolution fish geology Love love & romance Scots Scots similes time passing
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Sydney Goodsir Smith1915 - 1975

Born in New Zealand, Sydney Goodsir Smith nevertheless became one of the most interesting of poets writing in Scots in the mid twentieth century. 
More about Sydney Goodsir Smith

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