Orkney Gold
It has been a golden week on Orkney. The sky has been blue and the sun unveiled.
The Orkney 2025 Island Games are now complete: the races and swims, the after party and the journey home. Any athletes who remain will be refreshed by the soft rain that now falls from a mild misty sky. After a week of excitement, now it is the memories that remain.
It has been a privilege to gather together contributors to Island Voices both online and in person. There is something so special, and necessary, to hear a creative piece voiced, the words become alive with rhythm and new possibility. It was a privilege during the online open mic to have so many writers gathered across longitude and latitude together to listen and share their contributions.
The in person celebration at The St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall was enriched by writers not only reading their own pieces but each choosing a favourite piece from the collection to share. This double-dipping really brought to life the idea of the collection being a conversation, something that is forever alive between island communities. These places not only share the geographical feature of being surrounded by water, but of being places of both freedom and containment. How to feel a sense of belonging is a continuing journey.
The in person gathering ended with a short poem I had written earlier in the week after a couple of gold medals came Orkney’s way. To my delight it had been rapidly translated into Swedish by LaDena Laine and the celebration ended with a community reading of the poem in English followed by Julia Danielsson reading the piece in Swedish.
The final celebration of the collection was on Saturday with a gathering of the generous artists of Soulisquoy Printmakers at The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness. The artists had worked from the same prompts as the writers to produce brilliant prints that illustrated the collection. After a request to read my piece (always happy to read) I roped in the gracious Bi Scott to read with me. But the absolute highlight was Thora Linklater, a contributor in her native Orcadian dialect, who was persuaded to share her piece. She held us all spellbound as she sang. It was as sweet a melody as could ever be wanted.
So, the games are over and the collection complete, yet conversations continue across the water.
