Once again a vigil at the steps
From dusk until dawn breaks again
Another lonely night as faith drives me on
Long cold times have tested my spirit in pain
I have sat upon the steps of this causeway for years
Talking and whispering to the night air
I think of your beloved who you carried from afar
Strong, silent and good I know that you care
Days weeks months I have sat
Calling out your name to the wind and tide
I know you hear me Finn I know you do
You built this causeway to claim your bride
Now is the time to awake from your slumbers
This earth is losing its pride
You are the one that will make it listen
We can turn things around with you on our side
Now help me save earths creatures
Being hunted for sport and scientific reason
I call out these words night after night
Long lonely nights season after season
The spray on the steps seems colder tonight
There’s a strange mist coming in from the west
My body feels heavy and tired just now
I’ll lay down awhile and rest
Laying here at night I could forget everything
Hearing the quietness of rollers in the bay
The faint light picks out odd shapes on the point
What I feel most about seems so far away
I can hear a gentle roaring sound
Feel something touching my back
Turning around to see nothing but grey mist
I must sleep now the night is so black
Then out of the shadows and darkness I saw
A giant hand beckoning me to step on
I climbed on and was lifted up
The hand was huge yet fears I felt none
Raised up so high into the sky
To see a broad smiling face
Piercing blue eyes jet black hair
A voice that was smooth yet strong with grace
You have called me from the depths of the ocean
I am here because of your persistence
Now waste not my time or these steps you see
I will remove them out of existence
Oh Finn I said where can I start
All earths’ wildlife is being forsaken
The world will listen to your wisdom and strength
We need to shake the people make them awaken
This I implore you here on my knees
You can span all points of the compass in hours
Make people see they will respect your wishes
You are so big you have power
I need your strength I need your fortitude
This is something I cannot do alone
There are thousands of others who feel the same way
We are but small in the vastness of the unknown
But you, you are a giant and command respect
With gentle persuasion we could intervene
We could be a theatre of audience this night
Oh, Finn said, but I must not be seen
That is the way and always must be
Now the time has come and you have started it
So we will resort to ways of the past
I will say one thing, you have got grit
I and others have decided to help without harm
We have heard your wishes seen the tears
While you have sat out your vigil on the steps
Your patience will be rewarded for faith in the years
So Finn placed me onto his shoulder
Hold tight my persistent little friend
We’ll traverse the globe in hours
And shake the foundation of those who pretend
I felt a strange powerful uneasy feeling
As I looked down on the lights of the coast
Fear not said Finn we will not be seen, you will see
It’s your dream that matters the most
We walked in the sea yet never sank
Striding across ocean and land in our quest
His head and shoulders above the waves
As a ship passed close by he breathed out a mist
That cloaked us in silence suspended in time
I could have reached out and touched it unseen
Finn turned and winked at me as we carried on
I knew now, why and how some things are not meant to be seen
We crossed over Europe giving out a message
Through the lowlands of Germany France into Spain
Great boulders crashed down out of the mist
They were dropped carefully so not to injure or maim
But then again close enough to alter their minds
Make people realise everything has a right to live
And there are unseen forces willing to protect them
Word of mouth Finn says is the language we’ll give
Fur hunters in Siberia and Russia were put to flight
Tiger stalkers in Asia trembled at his unseen voice
The world was his oyster and as he gestured
Gave warning to all gave them a choice
Through China and beyond caged animals set loose
From cruelty they were taken away
We need to educate all these people he said
I know I said but how I have longed for this day
We journeyed far out across land and sea
How I’ve waited these long years and patient in the making
All of the warnings were stern yet sincerely given
Now a voice is heard the world at last will be waking
You must change your ways or I and others will return
Finn said these creatures are not yours to maltreat
If anyone got to close we were instantly surrounded by mist
Where they could see nothing we could see all complete
Through great deserts we strode with ease
Into Africa ivory poachers were blown off their feet
We saw lion hunters, Finn stamped his foot on the ground
They trembled and fell, how I laughed at this feat
Finn stopped one time deep in a jungle clearing
Spoke to some natives all in full sight
They were not overawed or unnerved by his size
It was if they new of his mission that night
America and Canada felt the force of his presence
Moose and bear hunters with guns were rolled down hills
I spoke quietly to Finn; some of these will carry on as before
Yes he said but there are others like me with greater skills
I watched baby seal hunters clubbing their prey
For the sake of a light coloured fur
Finn broke the ice the whole camp was submerged
By the time they got out their prey and profits were deterred
We journeyed far across the Alaskan blue ocean
Where Finn saw a whaling ship harpoon already gone
A great blue whale rose high out of the sea
Blood pumping red, lashing and crashing where once it had shone
The great beautiful beast came down with a mighty crash
There lying on its side blood soaked still breathing
Finn snapped the cable that tethered it to the ship
He pushed the ship away with his hand I could feel he was seething
A dense fog came down the ship was out of site
Holding the whale he spoke in a quiet gentle voice
Placing his thumb over the wound he pulled out the silver harpoon
This is seldom allowed he said but I have no choice
The wound healed he released the creature back into the sea
It rolled away into the depths; I could not believe what I had seen
If you can heal I said why do you not do it more
Sometimes we can but it’s not the way they will learn
He clipped the silver harpoon to the lapel of his cloak
Next to where I sat, I held on to it tight
It seemed as though we had been travelling forever
Finn said you are tired I will take you back this night
I felt drowsy as water and coastlines flashed by
My arms wrapped around the harpoon my legs under Finns lapel
I hope we have changed people’s minds I thought
If one animal from cruelty is saved my cold nights have been well
And so we were back at the base of the steps
He lifted me down near the top
Sleep now he said you will need all your strength
There will be hard times ahead you must falter not
A presence will be there every step of the way
Not every task will turn out as planned
At times it will be fraught and arduous
Though the end justifies the means, make a stand
And then he was gone back to his dream world
I awoke with a startle in the early morning light
Looking up and down the steps then out to sea
I looked all around so it was a dream in the night
Tired and chilly I stood up and walked around
Then down the steps and onto the shore
There was a fine mist rolling in across the water
I thought long and hard of my vigil I cannot do this any more
I saw an old man stood down by the shoreline
He said hello its going to be a fine day
Hello I said in an offbeat fashion
Do you believe a giant built this causeway
Of course he did every one knows that
Then for the want of talking I told him my dream
When I had finished he grinned, said you are lucky
I have walked these shores all my life and not seen
As I walked away down past the rocks
He shouted after me don’t forget your stick
He pointed over to the bottom of the steps
You need to get it now the tide coming in is quick
I ran across to the base of the rocks
Fifty yards through the mist at the base of a dune
As I got closer I could not believe what I saw
Standing there in full sight, a silver harpoon
I held and pulled it out of the ground
It was not a dream it was true it was all true
I looked for the old man he was nowhere insight
I was overcome with humility my hopes now grew
I rushed down to the sea and the shoreline
This was the harpoon I had held onto
I washed it clean in the water of the sea
There were words on the base, for you
There is a reward for truth and compassion
Allowing nature to flourish is a golden rule
So keep the faith, the unknown is vast
I and others, your friend. Finn Mcoul. |  |
