It's Christmas Eve in Morecambe Bay. We're miles from home - and further from Gabriola.
As I walk along the bay, I'm reminded of earlier visitors by these words on a memorial......
The Bay of Words
By Lavelle
From dawn to dusk and through the night,
They worked and riddled out of sight.
Far away on distant shores
Men and Women do their chores
Families so very far to see,
Pick cockles for you and me.
A fruitful day as some would say,
We picked cockles on Morecambe Bay.
Such success we trawled for more
On this lovely majestic shore.
Are we illegal? No we’re not!
Travelled Migrants we forgot.
Just how savage life can be?
For each and all including me!
In utter panic we lost our way,
And on the bay we had to stay.
The light went dim, we should have known
Morecambe Bay is now our home
Oh gentle people be so kind
Always keep us in your minds.
We worked so hard to get our pay,
Oh, good lord, what a way!
Cold... Wet... And in the dark, we became the bay.
Remembered as part of the majestic Morecambe Bay.
To end our day and nights too,
On Morecambe Bay so loved by you!
Sunshine come and light the bay,
We won’t see another day.
Look out and you will see
Passing migrants just like me!
Please remember how we fell,
It was just a living hell.
So see the birds up in the sky,
They take our souls and make them fly.
Across the world from when they came,
Sharing in the bay’s great fame.
Remember us with love not fear!
We, like you
Now live here!
17 July 2007
By Lavelle
From dawn to dusk and through the night,
They worked and riddled out of sight.
Far away on distant shores
Men and Women do their chores
Families so very far to see,
Pick cockles for you and me.
A fruitful day as some would say,
We picked cockles on Morecambe Bay.
Such success we trawled for more
On this lovely majestic shore.
Are we illegal? No we’re not!
Travelled Migrants we forgot.
Just how savage life can be?
For each and all including me!
In utter panic we lost our way,
And on the bay we had to stay.
The light went dim, we should have known
Morecambe Bay is now our home
Oh gentle people be so kind
Always keep us in your minds.
We worked so hard to get our pay,
Oh, good lord, what a way!
Cold... Wet... And in the dark, we became the bay.
Remembered as part of the majestic Morecambe Bay.
To end our day and nights too,
On Morecambe Bay so loved by you!
Sunshine come and light the bay,
We won’t see another day.
Look out and you will see
Passing migrants just like me!
Please remember how we fell,
It was just a living hell.
So see the birds up in the sky,
They take our souls and make them fly.
Across the world from when they came,
Sharing in the bay’s great fame.
Remember us with love not fear!
We, like you
Now live here!
17 July 2007
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