Recently, a dear friend of mine returned from a visit to Newfoundland and brought to me several editions of your Downhome magazine. In one of them, dated Sept. 2008, you had several pictures of lighthouses, including Fort Amherst. I also saw you had a section on letters from your readers. So I thought I would write to you and send you a poem which mentions the lighthouse I knew so well.

I am a Newfoundlander. I was born there, and grew up in St. John's. From the landing of my home, which was on a high level, I could see the harbour as I came downstairs, with Fort Amherst and Cabot Tower in the distance. In my final year of high school at Prince of Wales College, also on a high level, I sat by the window, and was sometimes reprimanded by my teacher for always looking out the window towards the harbour.

Howver, when I wrote this poem for my Girl Guides Writers badge, it was my teacher who made sure that it appeared in the school magazine.

During my life, I have lived in several countries and seen many beautiful scenes. But the picture of St. John's harbour with Fort Amherst and Cabot Tower has always been with me on the wall of my home, and in my heart. This is the poem I wrote so many years ago.


Harbour View

You sit in the window where I sat
The seat in the window row.
Do you see the same things that I saw
From that window so long ago?

Do you watch the big ships in the Narrows,
As they steam through the harbour to port.
And the sailboats with seagulls above them
And think "Were I a bird of some sort?"

Do you see Southside Hills in the distance
With the paths that wind uphill and down
And have you ever traced a traveller
From his hut right down to the town?

Do you see Fort Amherst our lighthouse
That sends out its beams through the night?
Cabot Tower is on the hill opposite
Where Marconi spent a long night.

Do you see the dark clouds as they come up
To hide the blue sky from your view
Do you watch the rain splash on the windows
And smile when the sun shines through?

You're a lucky girl in that window
And I was that girl long ago
So I feel you're my friend, whoever you are
Dear girl in the window row.   Submitted By: NULL