I’m not a poet, and I really do know it, but still, why not try and have fun with words I thought. This is exactly what I’ve done. I’ve written my first poem about my favourite island the Isle of Arran 💙
It took me a few months to think of the words, with room for improvement I feel. The hardest part for me was finding rhyming words that made sense. It was so difficult! I know poems don’t need to rhyme. They should make you think, analyse the words, work things out, like a puzzle.
I’m a plain English writer and words need to make sense for me to understand what a story is all about. I had an impulse to write in rhyme and also wanted it flow if I read it aloud.
I wrote my poem for Arran’s new Lagg Whisky Distillery poetry competition just to see how it faired. Suggestions were to:
“Capture the beauty of the Isle of Arran, the history of the island or the Arran spirit itself.”
My poem didn’t make it, but that’s okay. I wasn’t expecting to win anything as I’m very much an amateur at this. I’m also not an expert on whisky, but I now love to try a wee dram now and then. As you might already know, my very first whisky tour and tasting was at Lochranza on the island.
Either way, I was also planning on sharing my poem here on my blog as this was a new creative challenge for me. The journey in my mind, thinking of the places I’ve seen with my own eyes, then finding the words to describe this, was fun.
Congratulations to the winner and runners up! I’m really pleased for you all and also excited to visit the new Lagg whisky distillery when it opens in summer 2019 (officially opened on 12 June 2019).
I remember passing the new sign for the development when I walked the Arran Coastal Way in June 2017. Another beautiful place to stop for refreshments if you’re walking the coastal way, or just visiting.
My Arran poem
My vision was to write a few words about some of the beautiful villages on the island and also mention the history of the island’s whisky. A little taster of each, so to speak. These are the places I mention in my poem:
- Isle of Arran, Scotland in miniature
- Brodick
- Corrie
- Sannox
- Lochranza
- Catacol
- Pirnmill
- Imachar
- Machrie
- Blackwaterfoot
- Lagg
- Welcome home
- Kildonan
- Whiting Bay
- Lamlash
- Leaving Arran
Visuals are always good to use, so I added a few photos as a background to my words and inserted these as images below.
I also created a video of my poem which you can watch and listen to at the end of this post. There’s also subtitles that you can turn on via the YouTube player.
Tour of the Isle of Arran
Come with me on a tour around this beautiful island, through my eyes, expressing my feelings, using my words. I’d love to know what you think. I hope you enjoy it. 🥃
Download a PDF version of the poem (PDF 4.7Mb)
If you got this far, to the end, thank you for taking the time to read my first poem.
Videos of my poem
I felt inspired to create video footage to really bring my words to life. I’m pleased to say I finally finished creating these videos in September 2020.
I know this is a different blog post to my usual adventures, but it’s something I really wanted to write about so I can look back and enjoy the journey all over again 💙
Love, Dawn-Marie x
Love Exploring Scotland 
Hallo Dawn-Marie,
I’m sorry I wasn’t able of reading your blog earlier.
I have never been to Arran but I can assure you that your poems certainly inspired me.
I don’t know if we’re able to visit it this year but it is certainly going to be on my list. Thank you so much!
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Hello Froukje
Thank you so much. If my poem inspires you to visit this really puts a smile on my face :). You would love the island. A perfect place for a Dutch Peakers adventure. If you ever do visit in the future let me know and I can hopefully visit for the day to see you all. Thank you!
Dawn-Marie x
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Arran, a family favourite over many years. You capture the spirit and and make me want to go back though now too old to walk far up the glens.. Thank you.
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Thank you Mary 😊
I love visiting when I can. The island always makes me feel better. I hope you can return and even try some low level short walks. Some you don’t have to go far to enjoy the views.
Thanks for your lovely comment 💙
Dawn-Marie
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Gosh what an epic love poem to an island you clearly love and know very well.
We visited Arran for the first time Easter 2018 and were blown away by it’s beauty. We arrived accidentally, as we had planned a tour of the outer Hebrides but ferry issues prevented that. We are coming back this May and intend staying through to October so that we can thoroughly explore and enjoy the island. I now intend using your poem as a guide and will visit every place you so beautifully describe. Thank you
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Hello
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! It is all from my heart 🙂
I’ve been visiting Arran regularly for 13 years now, but also visited when I was a teenager (long ago). I’ve still lots of places to explore there.
I love that you found the island by accident and it has drawn you back again. You’ll have lots of time to explore if you stay that length of time.
I have other posts on my blog about Arran that might help: https://loveexploringscotland.com/category/isle-of-arran/
I really appreciate your comment, have a brilliant time when you visit!
Dawn-Marie x
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Thank you, Yes I have already had a look at your distillery tour and the coastal walk and shall return to them for reference. Especially as they feature Lochranza which is where we will be based.Thanks again, Fiona
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Well done Dawn-Marie, I really enjoyed travelling through Arran in your poetic words and imagery. As someone else said above, printing your poems with your photos in a book format would be a really nice idea, even if only for personal purposes. Also like everything else i life, you have to start somewhere and with practice it becomes easier so keep doing what you enjoy and keep feeling confident enough to share what you create with the world.
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Thank you Susanne 💙
I think I might look at making a small book for myself. Everything is online and I don’t have anything in print.
I was nervous sharing my poem, but that’s what I thought too, with practice I could get better. I put all my heart into it and if others enjoy it, that makes me happy 😊
I really appreciate your message, Love Dawn-Marie x
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I love your work. They were daft not to choose yours! You should consider doing a book illustrated with your fabulous pictures! It would be excellent and I would buy it!😊
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Aww thanks Diane 💙 I’ve always wanted to have my own book and hope it was good enough. Thank you as always for your support. Catch up soon! x
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Brilliant Dawn Marie! That must have taken you ages – so much detail and sentiment. Makes me want to visit Arran again. X
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Hello Caroline!
Thanks so much for your comment. It means a lot 💙 Yes, it was a few months of juggling words … I had the images in my head, the feelings I felt, but the words were difficult for me. If it makes you want to visit Arran again, then my poem has worked!
Thank you 🙂 xxx
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Dawn-Marie, creating a poem (indeed even finding the poetry in everyday things) is quite the challenge. I applaud you for setting such a great goal and then following through. Just like climbing a mountain one step at a time, a poem in the making comes one image, one word, one line at a time. I am always happy to read your posts! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and endeavors.
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Thanks as always Laurie. I think like most of us, I always have that element of doubt if it is good enough, but then I need to remember and tell myself that as long as I’m trying, it is better than nothing at all. I must admit I was nervous sharing it. Thank you 🙂 x
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They are beautiful poems I enjoyed reading them.
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Thank you, I am so happy you enjoyed them. I really appreciate your message 💙
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