There is a calm celestial spot
upon the Isle of Coll,
around the head from Sorisdale
where Kismuil's men did fall,

High up, as height on Coll may count,
high on a northern slope
a hollow sheltered from the land.
One resting there may hope

that true peace coming from the sea
and warmth from heated rocks
will calm the mind and heal the soul,
and lift from us the shocks

that pass as living working life,
(but day to day the same
tell not of any morrow sweet
and speak no calming name).

On that good place I sat one day
like Moses in his cleft,
saw there a curtain in the north
great Rum, of men bereft

by cruel Coll in days gone by,
and through its riven top
harsh Cuillin's cold sierra peeps,
and waiting in the wings

proud rising Eigg cloud-mantled cold.
Peace on the ocean lies,
though down below and deeply dark
fear hides from mortal eyes.

The surface calm white gannets pierce,
and ne 'er a fish they lack,
who never rest on land or sea,
from Kilda's isle and back.

Here sing the seals and otters play,
here glides the razorbill:
and on the hill deep peace is found
and nothing dark or ill.

Burn sun, as only sun can burn
on land more used to cold
and wind and wet: shines such a day
as midst the rocks shines gold.

A moment came when every sense
united to proclaim
that God is good, his world is good,
and blessed is his name.

A moment came when heaven's gate
lay open for a time
to sigh and sound and taste and smell.
No ladder here to climb

like Jacob 's angel visitors
at Bethel's dreamy dawn,
when he as pillow used the stone
our ancient kings sat on!

For not to heaven, but heaven here,
all feeling testifies:
I said, "my God, there cannot be
a better paradise!"

If God is good, and has prepared
a banquet for us all
of joys that never dim or dull,
I tasted it on Coll!

Rev. D. Kellas

* The title is from a reference to Iona by George MacLeod