written and posted by members of Lancashire Dead Good Poets' Society

Friday 18 July 2014

Shine on ....

13:58:00 Posted by Louise Barklam , , , , 1 comment

Survivors of the Shipwrecked Forfarshire with Grace Darling and her Father rowing out to them. Longstone Lighthouse visible in the distance.


This weeks' theme is "Shine", and as my brain seems to be a little peculiar sometimes, it made me think of a Lighthouse ..... as you do.

Perhaps, it may be because there is a family link to a Lighthouse. Not just any old Lighthouse though you understand, but Longstone Lighthouse on the Farne Islands.  That may not mean very much to most of you, but it was home at one time to an ancestor of mine.  Grace Darling.  If you don't know who she is, look her up online.

  1. Grace Darling was an English lighthouse keeper's daughter, famed for participating in the rescue of survivors from the shipwrecked Forfarshire in 1838. Wikipedia
  2. BornNovember 24, 1815, Bamburgh
  3. DiedOctober 20, 1842

I won't waffle on about her heroics, you can see that for yourselves when you do a little research, I only ask that (1) You do actually look her up and have a little read about her and (2)You bear in mind that back in those days, women didn't do that sort of thing!  I am proud to be a descendant of this lady.



Grace Darling



Shine On ....

A towering, guiding, 
sweeping, searching 
Light above the brine.

Come thickest fog 
or powerful storm 
It stand the test of time.

A proud, strong, 
vigilant family 
Standing by whatever the cost.

Worthy, serious, 
responsible, wise 
In their blood, saving the lost.

Longstone Light
Long may you shine
a beacon of hope for all.

Grace Darling,
brave and dutiful
answering the desperate call.



Thanks for reading my randomness. ;-) x

1 comments:

Damp incendiary device said...

I remember her story being on TV. Inspiring stuff. Very jealous of that family history.

I think the rhythm you've used works brilliantly. It felt like I was bobbing over the waves with the words.

Fascinating post - thanks!