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  • Ham Voe Haiku
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Ham Voe Haiku

Alistair Peebles

an extract

Hamnafield and me
this morning: my pluming breath,
its scribbles of scree.

Among chains and rope,
lashed here all winter: Swallow,
Lively, Brighter Hope.

Mandolin, guitar:
after Hurricane Highlights
a slow island air.

No more shag. A joke.
A minute’s silence while my
pipe goes up in smoke.

A burst bale at Ham
makes a spread for two ponies,
a bed for one lamb.

Boat-wreck in the nousts,
millstones in moss by the burn.
Windmill blades turn, turn.

How pleasant the walk
to Da Kame from Hamnafield,
in and out of fog.

Let’s sort out these names:
Da Sneug, Da Noup, Hamnafield,
Soberlie, Da Kame.

When he’s quite certain
I’ve been here a week, he moves
in my direction.

Bryan, hour by hour,
stoops to the weld: a tiny
flickering flower.


Alistair Peebles

from Atoms of Delight (pocketbooks, 2000)

Reproduced by permission of the author.

Tags:

haiku Scotland Shetland Islands
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Alistair Peebles

Alistair Peebles was born in Falkirk and lives in Orkney. He owns and directs Brae Projects. His work is concerned with landscape and his immediate environment.
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