The narrow straits:
The stretch of water between Ireland and Scotland
The perilous, hopeful path of the refugee.
The hidden, inner journey we all take to find the shore
Historian and social justice advocate Rosemary Power maps the stormy crossings of the human spirit. Drawing on her deep connection to the Hebrides and a lifetime of advocating for the vulnerable, she offers poems that go to the heart of human experience and illuminate the most difficult straits of our lives.
From the stormy seas between Ireland and Scotland to the harrowing, eternal struggles of refugees seeking safety, these poems capture moments when land and hope is both tantalisingly close and agonisingly out of reach.
CONTENTS
Introduction 7
Inside the music 10
The journey 11
Glen Nant 12
This side the shadows 13
The bell 14
In the west 16
Snćfellsnes 18
Prayer for writers 20
Brendan 22
The island. Iona 23
Columcille 24
Iona visitors 25
Hermit 26
Reilg Oran Chapel 27
Hill of the Angels/St Michaels Chapel, Iona 28
Girls known to Jesus 29
Adomnán 32
Staying the seasons Passiontide and beyond 33
Rathlins other island 34
Lament of the fig-tree 35
It was the third hour 36
Oughter cross 37
After the plague: Holy Saturday 38
The empty day 39
In the dew 40
Belfast Trideum: 42
The day God called 42
Maundy Thursday night 43
Good Friday morning 45
Good Friday evening. Belfast Covenant, 1988 47
Holy Saturday. It may be God 48
Easter Sunday. After the ceasefire 50
Belfast Pentecost 51
Staying the seasons Christmas and beyond 53
City Christmas 54
Child of the manger 56
Joseph 58
Herod once heard 59
Decoys 60
Border Presentation 61
The Flight 63
The return places of giving 67
Kylemore 68
Holy Island quernstone 70
Rain at Corcomroe 72
Loop Head 73
Lehinch 74
Illaunamanagh cemetery, Shannon 75
The return places of story 77
Western knitter 78
Ballad from Death Row 80
The last wolf 82
Clearances 84
Caithness windfarm 87
Refugee 88
The shallow Channel 89
Moneen teen/The journey 90
Gaza: 93
For the young who die alone 93
In the wildness 94
Crossing 95
In the time of Covid-19 96
Spring 98
Burren light 99
Rosemary Power is an author of books and articles on Iona and the medieval Hebrides, an editor of refugee stories, and a member of the Iona Community, with extensive experience in church ministries and social justice situations. This is her first full collection of poetry.
