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Poetry and song inspired by the unique experience of summer and winter in Shetland.
Simmer Dim
In Simmer Dim an old man recalls his younger days at sea. Sung by Davie Henry who spent his childhood on Foula and knew Bobby Isbister, who had learned the song from his mother. Reproduced with kind permission of Shetland for Wirds.
Copyright © 2009 – 2021 Shetland For Wirds.
Simmer Dim
O simmer dim, O simmer dim!
I canna sleep avaa.
Du sheens in trow my window bright
An pits da sleep awaa.
I tink on days noo lang geen by
When I wis young an strong
A coilin o da auld buss ropp
An da simmer dim shon on.
Du shon doon trow da peerie hatch
On my poor bare young head
An waater fae my elbicks ran
Tears fae da winch owerhead.
O simmer dim, O simmer dim!
It sheens apo wir shores
Nae boats laek dem dat wis, du sees,
For dey ir dere no more.
Da auld ship, sho is noo nae mair
Da crew dey aa ir gone
Except mesel at’s still left here,
Bit da simmer dim sheens on.
O simmer dim, O simmer dim!
Dy licht dey canna see,
Juist laek da auld boats in der noosts,
Forever dey will be.
Sometimes apo wir auld banks ayre
Whin da simmer dim sheens on,
I tink I hear der voices low
Mingle wi da saat sea strong.
O simmer dim, O simmer dim!
I tank dee noo my man.
Du keeps an auld man fae his sleep
Bit ever will sheen on …
Du keeps an auld man fae his sleep
Bit ever will sheen on.
Poems written by Unst man, Jack Renwick
First Snow, Winter Comes In and Mune Gaet are poems written by Unst man, Jack Renwick (1924-2010) and read here by Angela Fraser. Recorded 2021 for the Wild Skies Shetland project.
First Snow
Noo
Fedder saft
Da flukkra faas
An ower da laand
Lik doon quilt draas
Happin da laand in winter sleep
While mune an staars dir vigil keep
An deep in space whaar staar fires burn In dir blue an gold ribbons da Dancers turn
Winter Comes In
Grey dawn brakkin ower troubled watters,
Da Soond laek a burn wi da rip o da tide;
Da Mull, black an grim, ida first o da daylicht
Wi da sea brakkin white on his nortmast side.
Yowes kruggin closs ida lee o a daek-end,
Creepin frae a chill at bites ta da bon;
Solan an scarf aa wirkin inshore,
A sign at da best o da wadder is don.
Hail sheetin doon wi a Nort wind ahint it,
Blottin oot laand an sea frae da scene,
An iron coortin closin ower aa thing:
Winter has come ta da islands ageen.
Mune Gaet
Noo ower da Isles da hümin faas
An claeds da dreamin hills
Frae fit ta tap wi shails hap,
An day-sang saftly stills.
Da shades o nicht noo follow on,
An up da gjaet o nicht
Da Lady Mune, in siller goon,
Leds up her star-train bricht.
Far ower da sleepin Isles shö muves
Oot ower da ripplin sea;
Her lantern bricht wi magic licht
Is swingin far an free.
Bit Time, da Mester, heests him fast,
An bids her hurry on.
Wi lamp noo dim, shö follows him,
An wi her stars is gone.