The Trysting Place
July 6, 2023The Halted Moment
July 6, 2023The Halted Moment.
Wha hasna turn’d inby a sunny street
And fund alang its length nae folk were there;
And heard his step fa’ steadily and clear
Nor wauken ocht but schedows at his feet.
Shuther to shuther in the reemlin heat
The houses seem’d to hearken and to stare;
But a’ were doverin whaur they stude and were
Like wa’s ayont the echo o’ time’s beat.
Wha hasna thocht whan atween stanes sae still,
That had been biggit up for busyness,
He has come wanderin into a place
Lost, and forgotten, and unchangeable;
And thocht the far-off traffic sounds to be
The weary waters o’ mortality.
William Soutar
William Soutar (1898-1943) was a Scottish poet and writer. He contracted polio as a child and was confined to a wheelchair for most of his life. Despite his physical limitations, Soutar wrote prolifically and published several collections of poetry and prose. His work often dealt with themes of love, nature, and the Scottish landscape. Some of his best-known works include "The Happy Warrior," "The Three Eyes," and "The Land of the Leal." Soutar's writing is characterized by its simple and direct language, and his ability to capture the beauty of everyday experiences.