Iona has been of deep spiritual significance and inspiration to Kenneth Steven since his early childhood. This fifth collection of poems draws on his long association with the West Coast of Scotland and with Iona in particular.
Following its publication in June 2000, Iona sold out in only eight weeks, and has won wide acclaim from reviewers in the press and on radio.
Read this inspirational volume today.
THE DEATH OF COLUMBA
In the morning he is gone.
Only the face is left, the eyes.
But their light has passed, departed
Into the place he trusted so much.
They come with orchids and wild irises -
The poor people - their bare feet sore
Over the hard stones. Their faces have melted,
Word has ripped through their world like a knife.
But the day comes nonetheless. A tangle of otters
Makes rings in the shallow blue of Port Ban.
A branch of eagle steers out across Ben More,
Sunlight blesses the cloister floors.
They carry him to his last sleep,
Each one remembering the pieces of his life
They knew. They lay him soft in the grave's dark;
A lark tells them to sing, to sing and not weep.
“An excellent collection...Steven has a talent for capturing the startling, original image, like a sudden revelation, and placing it in beautifully observed pictures of the world around us. He is a fine, fine poet and this new volume is highly recommended. ” (New Shetlander)
“His poems have a finely developed lyrical quality. You see, as with cut gems, not through them, but into them. ” (Northwords)