‘Pages of the Sea’ St Ninian’s Isle Beach, Shetland Islands Day 214 November 11 2018
A special event across the UK including just down the road at St Ninians Isle. Created by Danny Boyle “Pages of the Sea” was a poignant and beautiful community event to mark Armistice Day, the end of World War I. A thankyou and goodbye to the men and women who did not come home. And in my memory I included the men and women who came home changed forever.
“On selected beaches around the UK, over the course of several hours, a portrait of an individual from the First World War will emerge from the sand. And then, as the tide rises, be washed away as we take a moment to say a collective goodbye.”
It was hard because I grieve always for all those who were sent off – many millions of young men and women. Imagining if that were to happen to any of mine today. Wondering what is was all for. Yet still I believe marking the loss of each person is important.
In the Shetland Islands the event was held on the Tombolo at St Ninians – a small isthmus where the tide rolled in on both sides. Figures were drawn on sand representing the millions of men and women, or for some a memory of a relative. As the tide came in each image was gently washed away.
A powerful poem was written by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and read for the event at each place around the United Kingdom. In addition, printouts were given out to take home.
It is the wound in Time. The century’s tides,
chanting their bitter psalms, cannot heal it.
Not the war to end all wars; death’s birthing place;
the earth nursing its ticking metal eggs, hatching
new carnage. But how could you know, brave
as belief as you boarded the boats, singing?
The end of God in the poisonous, shrapneled air.
Poetry gargling its own blood. We sense it was love
you gave your world for; the town squares silent,
awaiting their cenotaphs. What happened next?
War. And after that? War. And now? War. War.
History might as well be water, chastising this shore;
for we learn nothing from your endless sacrifice.
Your faces drowning in the pages of the sea.
Carol Ann Duffy, 2018
Being late autumn the light was beautiful and the sun began to drop in the sky as the sea came in.
