Hamnavoe

[shewhomust]

We've just watched a half hour programme in the BBC's A Poet's Guide to Britain series, about George Mackay Brown. Not being a particular fan of the poet, I watched primarily for the pictures of Orkney (and there were some fine pictures, Rackwick Bay, and Stromness streets gleaming after rain, and one of the door of the house where the poet was born - "Hey, that's where we stayed with desperance!") - and found myself gradually warming to the poem Hamnavoe which was the heart of the programme. Some of the presentation was a little tricksy, but on the whole the programme had the rare virtues of working close to the text and trusting its material, and as a result actually did what it claimed to be trying for, it opened a door to the place and the poem.

Still available on iPlayer or repeat broadcasts.

Comments

[karinmollberg.livejournal.com]

That sounds lovely. Outside my window a cat is meouwing, desperately. It must be one of the wild ones, looking for love and not a home but place to spend the night. Possibly even yearning for some fish.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Stromness is full of cats; something about the place has transmitted itself to you...

[sovay]

Some of the presentation was a little tricksy, but on the whole the programme had the rare virtues of working close to the text and trusting its material, and as a result actually did what it claimed to be trying for, it opened a door to the place and the poem.

I will have to watch this. Thank you!

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Naturally I thought of you - but I didn't know whether the iPlayer would work for you.