By The Holy Loch, Scotland,2 Poems Poem by Sheena Blackhall

1) By Holy Loch, Scotland (Spiritual)
Sea air salts the stones
Where Fintán of Taghmon walked
By the chapel of Kilmunn
Spiritual home of the great MacCailein Mor

Grass sings hymns to the seals
Otters preach the gospel of deep waters

Days here scurry like mice fleeing from owls
Dolphins guard a dead saint's lonely outpost


2) By Holy Loch, Scotland (Military)
1961- The cold war came these shores
Check mate Russia. Stale mate USA

USS Porteus brought Polaris missiles
A garrison town rose up like ranks of thistles
Gum chewing mariners strolled along its streets

Muscular waves flexed military might
Political shenanigans led the world by the nose
Protestors buzzed around like angry gnats

Those American sailors housed in their shark submarine,
What did they dream of those blue grass Blue Ridge boys?
Boys from the palms of Florida, from Mississippi's'
Alligator swamps?

In the dark belly of the loch,
Did they dream of turquoise seas and hyacinth skies?
Of college girls in bobby socks, pink nippled
As constellations strafed the icy heavens
The constant rain on the water, bullet stippled