I am trying to find a poem I read in school. I don't know the author but I think it was called the lighthouse. It tells the story of 3 missing lighthouse keepers who are investigated by 3 others. I rememeber a line regarding the fresh smell of whitewash, the fact that the lighthouse keeper meal was still on the table with one chair knocked over, and 3 comorants the size of men diving into the sea on the approach of the investigators.

Can anybody help identify the poem? M.

-- Matt Murphy (mariustheancient@hotmail.com), May 23, 2000

Answers

It is called Flannan Isle and is by Wilfred Wilson Gibson. I am 13 and I'm writing a news report on it for school. Everything you said is true of the poem but the bit about whitewash - "We paused, we seem'd to breathe the smell of limewash and of tar"

What are COMORANTS ? There is some thing about weird birds disappearing when the three men got close.

Anyway, Hope i've helped you. I don't know how I got onto this site though?

-- Daniel Potrykus (daniel@union.dircon.co.uk), December 05, 2000.

SORRY TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION AS YOU ARE POSING,BUT THIS IS ONE I HAVE ALSO SEARCHED (FROM NOSTALGIC SCHOOL DAYS) HAVE YOU FOUND THE POEM? OR WHERE TO FIND IT???

-- steve webster (stephen.webster@tinyworld.co.uk), March 21, 2001.

The poem is called "Flannan Isle" by Wilfred Wilson Gibson;it was published between 1916-1923,not quite sure.I have a transcript if you wish to contact me,I'll be only to happy to send it to you.

-- Kelvin Welbourn (kwelbourn@bigpond.com), May 09, 2001.

hi I am an english teacher and I am teaching 'Flannan Isle' right now - comparing it 'TheRime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge - I recomend you read it-it is very long but amazing. Good Luck.

-- tamsin edwards (tamsinedwards@hotmail.com), June 22, 2001.

I think that yoy have all the info you need about the poem off Flannan isle. I do not believe there is any basis for supernatural occurences in this regard.

However, having been a lighthouse keeper, working on similar stations, I understand how such fantasicies may arise.

Enjoy the poem as a great piece of literature, but treat it in the same vein as the story of the Marie Celeste, the solution has more to do with human reaction than any supernatural happening.

regards

-- chris williams (chrisw@vehicleconsultancy.co.uk), July 07, 2001.

Iam also doing a newspaper report at school i found some evidence at www.st-ninians.stirling.sch.uk/flannanisle/evidence.htm

-- Lisa Derbyshire (lins.derbyshire@talk21.com), October 28, 2001.

i am doing a news paper front page article 4 school and i need info. do you have any?

-- Gina Sneesby (me4tom@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.

Hi, Try the website www.google.com search Flannan Isle. It has a really good website on it

-- Emma Thorman (00emt@swgs.wilts.sch.uk), May 09, 2002.

yep we r doin the mystery on flannan isle if n e 1 needs more info watch CITV next tuesday and there is a programme called Mysteries or sumthing

and they r doing flannan isle

-- alip is da wicked est dj total (00acp@swgs.wilts.sch.uk), May 09, 2002.

We are also doing about this at school and we ave loads of info 2 go through it is boring just search 4 Flannan Isle on Google and u get tons of info but maybe not enough 2 write 1000 wors with

-- Chloe H (00clh@swgs.wilts.sch.uk), May 09, 2002.

Hi, I'm really interested in what you say about Flannan Isle Emma Thorman. lOVE fENELAA also. meet me after school cloz for a date

-- Fenella (00fkk@swgs.wilts.sch.uk), May 09, 2002.

hi em!!! and gina!!!!!!!!!!!

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-- i'm not going to tell u! (alip!) (00acp@swgs.wilts.sch.uk), May 10, 2002.

you are all really stupid for using a site for poetry for your on perverted personal use.

p.s.- Ass holes

-- brian weston (zergsax@netscape.net), January 19, 2003.