News / Scenes from Stromness
An enthusiastic group of Orkney refugees made up part of the audience to hear Morag McInness read her poems in the library last Thursday.
They nodded and laughed in recognition of the scenes McInness evoked in poems such as Shopping week, Cookie Castle and in her description of the hierarchy of the town of Stromness in the 1960s.
The poem Middletooners was a great hit, with those from the Attery and the Soothenders too vying for wood for bonfires.
The poet described how tales of the battles were retold next day – “afore the/times tables/wore us aal doon”.
Her readings, and her humorous depiction of the times, both Orcadian and national, were not only of interest to her Orkney fans.
Her recounting of the freedom of play, the strictures of parents and the changes in Stromness, could have been the tale of Lerwick, Scalloway or indeed many other small towns in Britain, where small shops have disappeared and the “pierhead parliament” presides over an influx of supermarkets and holiday homes.
There is a warmth and humanity about the poems, made all the richer by MacInness’ adroit and easy use of Orkney dialect.
The writer’s generous smile reflects a generous, open spirit – she does not condemn the new nor is she sentimental about the past.
She presents to us the characters, colour and images that were important to her as a child, and she delights the reader with beautifully conjured memories of activities in old Stromness – surely a town no longer “in a dwam”.
The book Street Shapes is a commissioned project by Stromness Township Heritage Initiative and features the attractive, sometimes startling, illustrative work of Diana Leslie.
Both colour and black and white versions are available in The Shetland Times bookshop.
Shetland Library staff hosted the evening – one of two book launches last week.
The library runs a busy programme of poetry, dialect and literature events and was delighted to welcome back MacInness, who worked there during the 1970s.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
