Sophia (10)

Darkness sweeps in from the east
The grasses dance in the cold wind
The wind sings in the wires
A late November gale

The sea has closed the ports
the ferry is not sailing today
will it tomorrow is not known
A late November gale

The radio is silent
of your voice
where it was heard
each Wednesday

We are awaiting your return
but the Atlantic is howling a lament
the sea is thundering a bass theme
on the deserted beaches of the west

When the winds drop down
we will bring you back
to your beloved
machair fields

We will bring you back
to the beaches of the west
where your life began
and where it ended

Sophia (9)

I always left you in darkness
stumbling along the road
with just a feeble torch
in wind and rain

From the warmth of your house
to the chill of a March gale
lashing rain
horizontally

Insouciant of the Uist weather
my feet borne along
by the warmth
of your welcome

Your warmth enveloped me
on the long wave atmospherics
I stumbled and was lost
when I thought I should leave

I saw you wave at me
my heart tore at me
not to go
but go I did

I left you in darkness
that final night
with only distant pinpricks
from far-off lights

We did meet again
and once more
we almost
did not part

I must have known
we would not meet again
and now you're in eternal light
of song, dance and laughter

Sophia (8)

The time is nigh
when you sing
to the moon
Eayst

"To bring him home
to you
Along the path
of stone"

The time is nigh
when you come home
but in spirit
you'll have never left

I left you long ago
in a crowded room
after an evening
in the House of Music

Your voice wafts
on the Atlantic breeze
Far out west
where the stars dance in the night

The black shadow awaits
after dark
in the window on the west
She knows

Sophia (7)

The western roads
are empty now
in the limpid sun
under endless skies

The western seas lap
on the seas of flowers
where the grasses bend
in the ceaseless wind

The western roads
smile to the echo
of your happy dance
towards your beloved beach

The western seas carry
your voice
from beyond this life
for all eternity

Sophia (6)

As the pipes skirl
the strings resound
the voice calls
and laughter rings out

It is only too soon
before I realise
that these are memories
from years ago

You once told me
how would you cope
with losing a loved one
when the time came

Not realising -
who would -
that the loved one
would lose you

As the pipes skirl to an end
the double beat ends on E-flat
the voice fades
and the counter runs out

Your black shadow waits
but now it's you waiting,
at the Rainbow Bridge,
for her to come too

Donna

From beside the lake
you sent us love
in colourful imagery
designed and taken

In a passion for life
you gave us love
sharing your wonder
at the beauty of nature

Nightmaremom or D
thisthat and hockey
the broadest smile
will be remembered by all

I watched you decline
over the years I knew you
until the door softly closed
on November 4th


Sophia and Torran

The night grew dark
as the cold wind blew
a star winked low
in the west

On the prowl
in the lands of grass
a pounce on
an unsuspecting vole

The window
was closed
the room was dark
never to be lit again

You did not know
why the world grew still
only the cold wind blew
on that darkened night

No call would come
no hand would reach
to open the window
on the west

Others became that hand
a kind but unfamiliar house
the window closed
the fading scent

At night you look out
By day you await
For the returning face
that'll never come

(Sophia's cat Torran was taken in by a friend, but is still looking out for her return...)

Sophia (4)

See that road
running through
the grassy sward
alive with flowers

See that road
where the flowers
dance
in their summer song

See that beach
where the waves
pound ashore
their bass theme

See that beach
with its white sands
shells from far away
footprints leading off

See the sea
where the seals swim
the birds wheel over
their eternal songs

See the sea
where you now are
forever happy
the singing mermaid

Sophia (3)

Your voice haunts me
reminding me of days gone by
from beyond the sea
from Tir nan Og

I remember
the evenings
as darkness fell
over the hills outside

And your face faded
into the darkness
within
only your voice remained

I could not leave
that final evening
perhaps knowing
I would not be back

Now that is left
are memories
the darkness
and your voice

You'll always run
the machair lands
and swim the seas
cold and warm

The sun will shine
about you forever
'though rain may lash down
over little Tigharry

Sophia (2)

I'm thinking of you
as I knew you
those years ago
not far from the sea

Talk far into the night
with only a little light
for me to discern
your face

The walks by the sea
the songs by the sea
where the mermaid
would swim at times

A black shadow
never far from your side
who had just joined you
when I first met you

A little torch
now bereft without you
searching frantically
but you'd never come back

The walk from Balranald
no shoes on your feet
in touch with mother earth
with whom you'll now reside

I still cannot believe
I won't see you again
only recordings of your voice
That happy image in Lochmaddy

Swim strong
Maighdean mhara
You've touched many
Near and far

Sophia

From the past you reached out
touched me gently
from beyond
life

I remember you
dancing the roads
roaming the machair
singing for all to hear

It was a long time ago
since our paths last crossed
in the house of music
in by the sea

You would swim in the waves
a mermaid alike
you are now
swimming strong

From the past you reached out
from house by the road
where the two lighthouses winked
off the coast of the west

The pain is now gone
we that are left behind
can but rejoice
through our tears

We will meet again
when all that's left to be done
has been done
in your memory

In memory of Sophia Dale 1966-2018