Peace On Earth 1918 - An Archive Advent Calendar #16

100 years ago today, Orcadian poet and marine naturalist Robert Rendall received the letter below from Mrs Alexander McKenzie of Stornoway, Lewis. She addresses him as Bro., presumably short for brother, but I think this is because they were both members of the Christian Brethren

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Orkney Archive Reference D27/7/6





Rendall served in Scapa Flow aboard HMS Imperieuse and wrote the poem below :

 

Orkney After The War

Now from the pool the tide of war recedes

And upon the water's surface filtered falls

The old tranquillity. Wave the green sea-weeds

Fanning their fronds fearless of sudden squalls.

Ols patient limpets scythe the meads aquatic

And rosy crinoids radiate starry twinkles

While hermit crabs with scuttlings acrobatic

Dispute the tenancy of vacant periwinkles.

Merchant anenomes spread their hungry tentacles

And earnest cattie-buckies keep their social conventicles.