To: the Editor —

Here on Block Island where power is mainly from diesel oil that is painstakingly tankered here by the boat (ecologically and economically plain crazy), there has been endless debate about the possibility of having an off-shore wind farm. Much of the delay comes from vociferous folk who think any wind farm would spoil the views or add unwelcome sound levels. It is as if the technology had never been tried out anywhere before, as if the places where wind farms exist were not (in my opinion anyway) made more stunningly beautiful by the turbines rising majestically and gracefully skywards. I have lived near Cornwall’s north coast farm and New Zealand’s Tararua ranges farm. The way the debate is turned into “No” or “Yes” makes it very hard to explore remaining issues of funding and construction, which need to be addressed. PLEASE Block Islanders, say “Yes” to wind.

This poem was written mid-December 2012, sitting by Mosquito beach, while the community was still talking.

The rushes have turned brown.

Now burnt bacon crispiness

rustles, crackles in the wind

The soft feathers

a month past have flown.

Beyond the near sound

a seagull rises from the pond

lifting its squawk beyond

the waves sussuration.

A snick, as each long stick

rush bends to find its place

clicks a return.

Sun glitters off the wavelets

Sighing whispering

over and over every sound

ceaselessly resonant.

A plane hums its wasp buzz

and car tyres offer

their whoosh on the road to town.

Unremitting the wind

comes by my eardrum

thrumming deep with endless

mindless babel all around.

I am here, I am wind,

Take my gift.

Let me add new sound

beautiful low belling

register somewhere

between the wave and the swamp

Let me bring new wonder:

the wind farm.

Harmonious grace

outstanding near.

Make this my gift.

Elspeth Crawford

Block Island