Something is required of me
I stand on the quay
as the moon folds itself
over the incoming tide
Something is required of me
the sky is full of rain
bells do not ring
there are dogs in the streets
Something is required of me
I climb to the highest point
of the yellow hill
I am surrounded
Something is required of me
I have touched each magic stone
but there is no voice
I fall in love with an island girl
hair black as a forgotten dream
eyes like the sea
and she brings songs to me
I cannot hold her
she dissolves like salt
in the ancient air
on the angels’ hill
Something is required of me
something silver perhaps
something seen from the side
I close my eyes
but cannot sleep
Something is required of me
I go to Columba’s Bay
and throw many stones
into the sea
I wrote this poem while staying on Iona earlier this year