Island Born

My mother bore me in an island town,

So I love windy water and the sight

Of luggers sailing by in thick moonlight—

I wear the sea as others wear a crown!

My mother bore me near spinning water,

Water was the first sound upon my ears;

And near the sea her mother bore her daughter,

and there were window looking on the weirs.

Ever a wind is moaning where I go;

I never stand at night upon a quay,

But I must strain my eyes for sails that blow,

But I must strain my ears to hear the sea.

My mother bore me in an island town,

I wear the sea as others wear a crown!

"Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B. 178 "From the New World": II. Largo" by London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Colin Davis

This was first presented as a slide show with two projectors and music in 1989. I never intended it for non-islanders to view, it was my gift back to the people I loved on an island I loved. My mother's large collection (over 10,000 catalogued slides) of her own images and paintings of the island made the beginning of this possible. When I began this work in 1987 it was strictly a personal project. For me it was a love affair from the start. It always felt right.

First night 2 July 1989 Union Church, 8 pm Vinalhaven, Maine.

I had a Teac reel to reel and learned quickly how to place music over Bee Heddericg reading Island Born by Harold Vinal.