The Lone Island

Each term the entire school participates in a creative writing contest, named in honour of long-time Brentwood English teacher, yearbook editor and houseparent, Ms. Beth Meluish. Below is the ballad composed by the Grade 9 winner, Jessica W, Allard ‘20. The Lone Island Long times ago when winds blew strong       When sailors sailed the seas           A place which now does not exist             Was covered then in trees. The sailors came to see the sights             They gathered all around The noise of those who laugh and shout   Was heard throughout the grounds. One special day the sun was strong         And autumn was in sight The wind was blowing from the west When something was not right. A gloomy chill was in the air           The mist was firmly placed   From nearby waters of the sea A flare was shot with haste. And through the mist, a ship was seen                   But going down, down, deep         Towards the depths of ocean’s floor The sailors’ sea would keep.         And since that day when ship was seen               Nothing at all’s been right All those who knew the place as home Were sad to leave that night. So all the people are now gone                   And nothing left is there                   Mourning the day the ship once sunk While ghosts now haunt the air. And to this day the island seems     Like everything is still So every time the wind blows west The screams of ghosts are shrill.