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I can't help but wonder if Orkney's George Mackay Brown ranks right up there with our local New England poet Robert Frost. Growing up in the rural woods of Massachusetts I was surrouned by the poetry of Robert Frost. His poetry connected easily with me because I could see and experience the same things he had written about. (To some extent. Like, we didn't have a pony and sled!) ) Then, during the past years living in Alaska, I was exposed to their local poet: Robert Service. (Think, "Cremation of Sam Mcgee." There are strange things done in the Midnight Sun by the men who moil for gold...)

"My" local local poet was Emily Dickinson. She came from Amherst Massachusetts and I grew up in a town quite near by. She lived from 1830 - 1886 and her poems were not found until after her death. She never used titles for her poems! (Her poetry is reallllly strange. But what can I expect from a Victorian recluse that spent her life lurking in her parents' attic??)

It seems like everywhere I go there is a well-known local poet held in high regard by the Natives. So even though I'll always love to read the poetry of Robert Frost and Robert Service and weird Emily Dickinson I think I'm going to enjoy getting to know the work of the esteemed George Mackay Brown! I'm so glad there's a local poet here in Orkney or I'd feel like I'd lost something very special.

The poem that inspired me to leave home at 17 and explore around the world was Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken." It's a pretty good read - he's not as weird as Emily D. All of his poetry is a good read but this George Mackay Brown does seem to strike me as the Orcadian Robert Frost. (I dare say that because Robert Frost was older!! So all you Orcadians who are gearing up to throw rocks at me can relax hehehe)

"...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference..."

**Sigh** Isn't it lovely?

Ok, I'll be honest: usually I can't stand poetry. It bores me to death. But I've always been struck by the more local poets - the ones who write about the life I'm basically living. They hit a chord within me because I can recognize, to some extent, what they are on about.

And of COURSE no "local poet" post would be complete without mentioning Robert Burns. Even though I don't have a stinking clue what the guy is saying, I just love his poetry. Why? Probably because I look cool saying, "I love Rabbie Burns!" When in Rome...

Ok, I'm kidding. I've been able to get my paws on some of his poetry in English and even though a lot of the meaning is lost in translation it has helped me to grasp with the Scots version is saying. And he sure knew how to write a poem!! When I hear a Rabbie Burns poem in Scots I pretend I know what's being said - all while trying to recall the English translation. I really enjoy this lady - I think her name is Eddie something - that sings Robert Burns songs in Scots but set to really cool modern Celticky music. (yeah, I just made that word up off the top of my head.) Eddie Reader?? Is that her name?? GAH! I wish I had the CD with me.

At the end of my wedding when everyone joined hands and sang that "Old lang sang" song I just moved my lips and tried to look intelligent. But still, I was thrilled to be enjoying yet another local poet named Robert.

Here's to local poets!!! **Raising mug of coffee in salute**

(Why is it that wherever I go the majority of famous local poets are named Robert?????)