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Kwarna Farna? By Vagaland

Kwarna Farna? - Vagaland (T.A. Robertson). 'Where are you going?' (Norn): a look at depopulation.

Read By John J Graham

Kwarna Farna Kwarna Farna Vagaland wrote this poem in the 1950s - a period of significant  depopulation in rural parts of Shetland.

 The Baas o Huxter are sunken rocks off Huxter, Sandness, ‘heard’ as sea breaks over them.  Dale and Brouster are places in the Waas (Walls) area.

 
A laar o Wast wind blaain   
Keeps doon da waarm ön;   
I hear da baas o Huxter,
An hear da laverik's tön
Ita da lift abön.

Da lochs, trowe bricht daals lyin,   
Spreads wide dir sheenin net;
Da simmermil is mirrlin   
Bv skerry, stack, an klett;
Bit shön da sun will set.  

You see noo, every saison,
Run waas  o barns an byres. 
An rigs an cuts  fast shangin 
Ta burra an ta mires,
An little reek fae fires.  

Eence Dale ta Brouster mustered
A thoosand folk an mair
Ta del, an draa da boats doon.  
An cast, an maa, an shair:  
Bit noo da laand is bare.

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