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