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The Longest Day

THE   LONGEST    DAY

It’s an astronomical fact little-known
That  New Year’s Eve  nineteen ninety one 
Was the longest  the  record will show.
The sun set in the west at Heathrow  
As our plane to Canada  took off, filled with zest. 
The plane’s speed  built up and sun rose again in the west 
And it  hovered  above the horizon – did not deign   
To dip  till Edmonton, when it set again.

Hogmanay Eve  34 hours long: bliss for a Scotsman.
Over Iceland some guy in a kilt began
To stride  the aisles playing a bagpipe  low.
High over Greenland the malt began to flow 
Freely from the baggage racks in the plane:
The racks are high, the Scots are higher again.
Dinner over Baffin Bay is a formality:
A slight slowing in the rate of alcohol hospitality.
The Italians wake up over Ungava  -
It might just as well  be Java  -
And begin munching their salamis rather than 
Have them confiscated  by the customs  man.
Bagpipes seem to gain in volume 
Eight miles up,  over  Uranium  City’s   gloom;
And at last, as the speed drops 
And the sun sinks behind the Rockies’  tops,
The “Highland  Laddie” falls asleep,
And so does his bagpipe.   Not a peep.
Plane is filled with blissful silence
As Canadian Hogmanay makes its entrance.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2011




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Date: 2/8/2011 5:43:00 PM
to dream, perchance to slip off from the wake of a new year! you blast me with words that just flow from your soul and onto your keyboard, sydney... likewise, i appreciate your kind words about my poetry; but after all is said and done-- i wish i could write as eloquently as you! thank you, i am touched!:) huggs, nette
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Date: 2/6/2011 1:54:00 PM
The pipes playing on the longest day, awesome. I bet the guy playing the pipes was probably more under the influence than puffed out. The pipes historically have incredible meaning to Scot's. In battle, the piper would lead the way, many an enemy ran at the skurl of them. What a wonderful way to take in Hogmanay, och aye the noo! ....:) James..
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Date: 2/6/2011 1:45:00 PM
Blimey, I didn't know that was the longest day on record, Syd. But then I got caught up in your description of the Scottish New Year's celebration. Smiled thinking how the "Highland Laddie" fell asleep as New Year arrived in Canada. James Fraser would love this one! I'll send him a message and suggest he read it. Love, Carolyn
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Date: 2/6/2011 12:29:00 PM
New Years Eve must have been very special that year..I am glad that I chose this one to read this afternoon..Enjoyed very much..Sara
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