Nautical Poetry

Malin Head is located on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal, Ireland and is the most northerly point of the island of Ireland.

 

Malin Head gives its name to the Malin sea area. There is a weather station on the head, which is one of 22 such stations whose reports are broadcast as part of the BBC Shipping Forecast.

 

I love to listen to the shipping forecast, even though I don't fully understand it. It sounds like some sort of nautical poetry full of remote, wild coastal names and obscure weather terminology.

 

Malin:

Wind - West 5 to 7, then backing southwest 4 or 5 later.

Sea State - Rough or very rough.

Weather - Occasional rain or showers.

Visibility - Good, occasionally moderate.

 

When I hear it, I imagine some poor mariners, tossed and battered by the elements, listening to the same broadcast, hoping for some good news of better weather to come.

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Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

(Psalm 33:18-22)

Done