headstrong

On a visit to Lismore in September 2009 we walked from Richard and Morag Fowler’s Cottage at The Point to Port Ramsay and eventually round the west coast to Castle Coiffin. Named after a Viking prince, the ruins are of a later date and were erected by the MacDougalls of Lorn. One window remains and I imagined a princess waiting in vain for the return of her lover lost at sea. I found out later from Dorothy Livingstone that there is a legend telling of Beothail, the sister of Coiffin, who laments her love who perished in a distant war.

On returning to the cottage David wrote the song My Lady Headstrong (click to listen to the song)

The lonely dove, so starved of love
For a sailor lost upon the sea
She walks the floor, then bolts her door
She will not open up to me

My lady headstrong
            I’m singing you this song
            For keeping your light on
            For a sailor who’s long gone
            Open up your senses
            Cut your defences
            I’m changing the lenses
            On this telescope you point at me

An open sky, the days drift by
No tide will rise to set her free
No shadow runs from a slanting sun
She gathers thorns upon the lee

Her eiderdown in this starlit town
She pulls so tight she cannot breathe
A bed unblessed, a wedding dress
Is hanging shapeless as the sea

With thanks to
Mark, Deckie and Sophie, fellow island travellers

Listen to more of David's Music on his website

Isle of Lismore Community Website - Home Page