Author’s poetic salute to ‘breathtaking’ Bermuda
Ode to Bermuda is Hilary Lawrence’s love letter to the island she’s called home for nearly 20 years. She wrote it ahead of Bermuda Day, the annual holiday that she and her family will miss this year. Her hope is that the poem sparks an appreciation among residents for the beauty so many of us take for granted ― and that it inspires new travellers to visit.
“Growing up in Scotland, every year we'd have to memorise poems, mainly from Scottish poets. And my favourite were always the odes that were written by Robert Burns. Odes are a metaphorical salute to a place or person you admire and it always struck me how meaningful they were and the impact they can have on children's lives,” said Ms Lawrence, a children’s author who donates proceeds from her books to The Reading Clinic and British-based Kids Operating Room, which provides children in some of the poorest areas of the world with access to safe surgery.
Her dream is to one day turn Ode to Bermuda “into some form of coffee table book” with the help of Katherine Summerville, the Bermudian illustrator she worked with on Loose Lips Sink Ships, A Leopard Never Changes its Spots and The Grass May Not Be Greener.
“I lived in Bermuda for over 17 years, and the beauty of the island had an everlasting impact on me, so my motivation for writing it was simple.
“Hopefully over the generations to come, people might read this book when choosing a destination to go on holiday, hopefully it might click with them and they might choose Bermuda over somewhere else,” she said.
“So often, with so many kids’ stories and poems, I think they sort of sit in your subconscious. So that was really my motivation for writing the poem. I love Bermuda and just wanted to write a little ode to the country. I hope people like it.”
When God made the world, he kept Bermuda for Himself. A breathtaking island, unlike anywhere else.
Its beautiful beaches have rose-pink sand, and crystal blue waters that swash on the land.
The gentle breeze carries the sweet perfume, of tropical flowers that are always in bloom.
Named when discovered quite by surprise, by Juan de Bermudez in 1505.
The first settlers didn't arrive for a very long time, 'til the Sea Venture was shipwrecked in 1609.
At the helm, Sir Somers, admiral and chief, as forced by a storm onto a treacherous reef.
His crew built the forts that still stand today, their churches and moon gates remain on display.
The island was landscaped with old-world charm, its rich volcanic soils proved fertile to farm.
Houses popped up in rainbow hues, intricately finished with charming white roofs.
The Brits made a claim to this small piece of heaven, and declared it a crown colony in 1707.
The colonists’ culture brought British traditions, with laws, an army, and elected politicians.
Bermuda became the jewel in the British crown, with the governor residing in St George town.
It quickly established strong lines of trade, exporting citrus and tobacco money was made.
But crops and tobacco suffered blight and disease, and hurricanes ravaged the citrus trees.
Shipbuilding then became the island's pride, with Bermuda's famed sloop exported worldwide.
The island constantly adapted in order to survive, finding avenues for locals to prosper and thrive.
Now, international business supports the nation, with insurance and reinsurance forming the foundation.
While in summer, tourism steals the show, as cruise ships and sightseers come and go.
Bermudians care for their land as their duty, knowing they live in a land of great beauty.
The island is famed for spectacular diving, on magnificent reefs which are healthy and thriving.
Parrotfish and turtles swim close to the bay, with barracuda, hogfish and eagle ray.
In spring, whales can be seen migrating by, breaching and spouting water into the sky.
While a chorus of birdsong can always be heard: kiskadees, longtails and Eastern bluebirds.
Each evening, rich sunsets throw golden light, and a choir of tree frogs resound through the night.
Glow worms light up as the light fades away, like stars in the ocean, a bioluminescent display.
Poets wax lyrical on this wonderful nation, which gave Shakespeare and Lennon their inspiration.
In the eyes of Mark Twain, it was perfectly clear, while others sought heaven, he'd rather "stay here"!
By Hilary Lawrence
With her children now in school in Britain, Ms Lawrence no longer lives here full-time but visits often.
“It's such a beautiful country. It has to be some of the most blessed landscape in the whole of the world. It is breathtaking,” she said.
Walking on beaches, seeing the birdlife, watching whales breach and driving past the beautifully coloured houses are just a few of the many things she loves.
“Because you get used to seeing them every day, you might not even [notice] that they're there even though they're right under your nose and they're just so special,” she said.
“Because I love writing poems in my spare time, it was fun to play with some of the things in Bermuda that I particularly am blown away with.”
It’s the same, the author said, when she returns to Scotland and gets an unexpected glimpse of the “majestic mountains” there.
“Sometimes, you forget until you go away. And then you come back and think, ‘Wow, they really are special’. It’s the same with Bermuda – the beautiful crystal blue waters and the beautiful ocean life and bird life. It's really out of this world.”
Despite her deep appreciation for Bermuda’s natural wonders, she admitted she didn’t know much about its history until she began writing the poem and started researching online.
“I know the kids learn it in school, but if you're not going through the school system in Bermuda then you don't always realise the history of Bermuda. I found it really fun just to learn as I was writing the poem.”
She started Ode to Bermuda a few years ago, but life and her books took over. A few months ago, Ms Lawrence decided to return to it.
“It's just been sitting there on my computer for a few years so I thought I'll just finish it off and [share it] with Bermuda Day coming around,” she added.
Recent success at the Literary Global Children’s Book Awards gave her confidence. The Grass May Not Be Greener and Loose Lips Sink Ships were overall winners in their categories; A Leopard Never Changes its Spots was a finalist.
“We’ve had a great response from people buying them. They’re available in the Hamilton Princess, Tucker’s Point, the Bermuda Bookstore and Brown & Co.
“We’ve just had such a great response by people buying them locally. It’s been really lovely and the shops have been very generous. Some of the stores don’t even take a cut from them, they just give their percentage to charity as well,” Ms Lawrence said.
You must be Registered or to post comment or to vote.
