Free spirit
roam the fringes
of our ancient land
or beyond
Free spirit
run through
the marram grass
that lines our shores
Free spirit
hug the shoreline
through the tangle
of washed up seaweed
Free spirit
dash in the waves
of the freezing Atlantic
jump out or in
Free spirit
run, walk or dance
over moor dune
or machair
Free spirit
free of convention
free from opinion
free as the wind
East wind (2)
Wreathed in white
Looming starkly
from the east
the mountains stand
The wind blows
still from the east
blowing straight
through you
Snow has not
reached here
Neither have
the drifts
The folk and animals
of Ireland and Argyll
plunged into winter
upon the spring equinox
Buried in snow
the sheep expired
the March lamb succumbed
to the March lion
Spring it was to be
But winter came instead
Three months late
here to stay
The muirburn flares
at times out of control
flames fanned
by the relentless east wind
Under the peat
the flames yet smoulder
north and south
across these isles
An anomalous spring
The seasons upside down
The east wind
in the isles of the west
Looming starkly
from the east
the mountains stand
The wind blows
still from the east
blowing straight
through you
Snow has not
reached here
Neither have
the drifts
The folk and animals
of Ireland and Argyll
plunged into winter
upon the spring equinox
Buried in snow
the sheep expired
the March lamb succumbed
to the March lion
Spring it was to be
But winter came instead
Three months late
here to stay
The muirburn flares
at times out of control
flames fanned
by the relentless east wind
Under the peat
the flames yet smoulder
north and south
across these isles
An anomalous spring
The seasons upside down
The east wind
in the isles of the west
Island once more
We're an island once more
Cut off by a blast from the east
The Minch is in charge
and denies us passage
We're an island once more
Angry white horses
charge in rows
at any that dare venture out
We're an island once more
the wind sings a tune
in the wires that swing
to tell all our tales
We're an island once more
no ferries today
cowering in port
while the blast lasts
Warmth will return
the sea winking
lambs gambolling
in the southerly breeze
Cut off by a blast from the east
The Minch is in charge
and denies us passage
We're an island once more
Angry white horses
charge in rows
at any that dare venture out
We're an island once more
the wind sings a tune
in the wires that swing
to tell all our tales
We're an island once more
no ferries today
cowering in port
while the blast lasts
Warmth will return
the sea winking
lambs gambolling
in the southerly breeze
East wind
The east wind
blows dry
fallen down
from the mainland hills
The east wind
carries like
dried husks
of fallen leaves
The east wind
cruelly cold
penetrates
to the bone
The east wind
brings the sun
but no warmth
the lamb shivers
The east wind
stifles inspiration
for those westward looking
over dark machair lands
The east wind
darkens the mind
while waiting
for the west to return
blows dry
fallen down
from the mainland hills
The east wind
carries like
dried husks
of fallen leaves
The east wind
cruelly cold
penetrates
to the bone
The east wind
brings the sun
but no warmth
the lamb shivers
The east wind
stifles inspiration
for those westward looking
over dark machair lands
The east wind
darkens the mind
while waiting
for the west to return
Free mind
From a distance
of three score and ten
my gaze longingly
casts south
My mind
espies yours
in freedom
on the brown machair land
Where birds flock
Your thoughts
and mine
mingled
And continue
to do so
from
afar
Dance
be merry
be joyful
Let the world go hang
of three score and ten
my gaze longingly
casts south
My mind
espies yours
in freedom
on the brown machair land
Where birds flock
Your thoughts
and mine
mingled
And continue
to do so
from
afar
Dance
be merry
be joyful
Let the world go hang
Fulfilled
The promise fulfilled
I gazed in your eyes
and found profound
serenity
Two pools
of green
inmeasurable
in depth
Your kindness
and empathy
moved me
to the core
Whatever happens
when I head north
leaving the beaches
and machair behind
Friendship abides
as does the memory
of when we stepped out
on the fresh machair grass
Eala bhan mo chridhe
Fly out in the west
by the seashore
where you find peace
I gazed in your eyes
and found profound
serenity
Two pools
of green
inmeasurable
in depth
Your kindness
and empathy
moved me
to the core
Whatever happens
when I head north
leaving the beaches
and machair behind
Friendship abides
as does the memory
of when we stepped out
on the fresh machair grass
Eala bhan mo chridhe
Fly out in the west
by the seashore
where you find peace
Anvil
Major anvils
frilly edged
rearing high
into the freezing sky
The March sun
blazing
in between
swirls of snow
The lion roars
chasing the
spring lamb
amongst the snowdrops
Look when
the lion
is replaced
by the lamb
When our eyes
meet for real
And we know
the promise is fulfilled
frilly edged
rearing high
into the freezing sky
The March sun
blazing
in between
swirls of snow
The lion roars
chasing the
spring lamb
amongst the snowdrops
Look when
the lion
is replaced
by the lamb
When our eyes
meet for real
And we know
the promise is fulfilled
Ablaze
Ablaze
the heather
under the
westering sun
Smoke drifts
westwards
in the anomalous
east winds
Drawing nigh
the equinox
the meeting
of day and night
Promise fulfilled
the first lamb
out on the point
where many were lost
Life replacing
darkness and ending
by
light and beginnings
My gaze
drifts south
in anticipation
of another promise
the heather
under the
westering sun
Smoke drifts
westwards
in the anomalous
east winds
Drawing nigh
the equinox
the meeting
of day and night
Promise fulfilled
the first lamb
out on the point
where many were lost
Life replacing
darkness and ending
by
light and beginnings
My gaze
drifts south
in anticipation
of another promise
Amity
Slowly the day
turns purple
as the sun
sets in the west
Far in the north
we're safe
from winter's
worst effects
Cold though
the wind blows
through the empty
Sunday streets
But winter
cannot chill
the warmth
of friendship
Soon I'll gaze
into your eyes
enveloped in
comforting amity
turns purple
as the sun
sets in the west
Far in the north
we're safe
from winter's
worst effects
Cold though
the wind blows
through the empty
Sunday streets
But winter
cannot chill
the warmth
of friendship
Soon I'll gaze
into your eyes
enveloped in
comforting amity
Promise of spring
Teasing through the clouds
scudding along
on that unceasing
east wind
The sun winks
and disappears
in a cruel
deception of spring
Yellow swing
the daffodils' heads
in the freezing breeze
a mockery
The promise
remains strong
and will be fulfilled
Winter will flee
Chased by
gambolling lambs
a burst of colour
a breeze from the south
On a song
in an alto voice
singing a siren call
an irresistible lure
scudding along
on that unceasing
east wind
The sun winks
and disappears
in a cruel
deception of spring
Yellow swing
the daffodils' heads
in the freezing breeze
a mockery
The promise
remains strong
and will be fulfilled
Winter will flee
Chased by
gambolling lambs
a burst of colour
a breeze from the south
On a song
in an alto voice
singing a siren call
an irresistible lure
March
Although March is now here
spring is not yet
It pulls us a long nose
whilst we freeze in the wind
The days are longer now
The bulbs bloom afresh
Do I hear the plaintive
bleating of the lamb?
But March's now a lion
mocking us
as winter winds
blow in from the east
Snow could yet fall
Hard frosts at night
Tis no weather for outside
Yet outside we must
But warmth is not far off
whether from the fire
or the glow of your friendship
from down the isles
spring is not yet
It pulls us a long nose
whilst we freeze in the wind
The days are longer now
The bulbs bloom afresh
Do I hear the plaintive
bleating of the lamb?
But March's now a lion
mocking us
as winter winds
blow in from the east
Snow could yet fall
Hard frosts at night
Tis no weather for outside
Yet outside we must
But warmth is not far off
whether from the fire
or the glow of your friendship
from down the isles
The Minch
Straight from the east
ruffling the sea
the wind blows
blows across the Minch
Keeping warm
by the open fire
shutting out the wind which
blows across the Minch
Hidden behind clouds
the warmth of the sun
appears to disappear
across the Minch
Hovering on currents
of unseen air
the crows dance
on the edge of the Minch
The lambs now appear
is spring now here
Not for a while
this side of the Minch
To south, your voice
dances golden
looking away
from the cold grey Minch
ruffling the sea
the wind blows
blows across the Minch
Keeping warm
by the open fire
shutting out the wind which
blows across the Minch
Hidden behind clouds
the warmth of the sun
appears to disappear
across the Minch
Hovering on currents
of unseen air
the crows dance
on the edge of the Minch
The lambs now appear
is spring now here
Not for a while
this side of the Minch
To south, your voice
dances golden
looking away
from the cold grey Minch
Circling
Circling
in the pale
early March
sunlight
An approach
oh my word
not so sure
drawing back
An approach
fabulous
want more...
drawing back
An approach
where's the bucket
is this right?
drawing back
An approach
is this good
well maybe
drawing back
Circling
in the pale
early March
moonlight
in the pale
early March
sunlight
An approach
oh my word
not so sure
drawing back
An approach
fabulous
want more...
drawing back
An approach
where's the bucket
is this right?
drawing back
An approach
is this good
well maybe
drawing back
Circling
in the pale
early March
moonlight
Shelter
From the top of the hill
glancing into the bright
spring sunshine
I espied
From the fair shore
with the waves lapping
and the birds calling
I espied
From my boat
with the waves heaving
under the keel
I espied
Reaching the port
the harbour of safety
Offering shelter
from the raging storm
For you
until the clouds
roll away
and the sun reappears
glancing into the bright
spring sunshine
I espied
From the fair shore
with the waves lapping
and the birds calling
I espied
From my boat
with the waves heaving
under the keel
I espied
Reaching the port
the harbour of safety
Offering shelter
from the raging storm
For you
until the clouds
roll away
and the sun reappears
Spring is coming
The sun has gained in strength
spring is now near
days are nearly equal
in length to nights now
From afar
your voice echoes
over the mountains
moors and seas
Which separate us
for now
One day I'll cross
and our eyes will meet
And the sun
will blaze in unrivalled
brilliance
to light up your life
spring is now near
days are nearly equal
in length to nights now
From afar
your voice echoes
over the mountains
moors and seas
Which separate us
for now
One day I'll cross
and our eyes will meet
And the sun
will blaze in unrivalled
brilliance
to light up your life
My errand
An errand I may run
One out in the hills
On the gentle slopes
at the brown summit cairn
Soft underfoot
my feet take me down
the incline
along the contour
I carry a treasure
a singular one
as I approach
the valley
Thick undergrowth
appears
seeming to slow
my progress
but between
the hills I continue
apace
as the growth thickens
A cave now appears
where the river
of life
springs eternal
It is my errand
to go forth
and into the cave
to the furthest I can go
To replenish
the river of life
The sun now shines bright
For my errand's complete
One out in the hills
On the gentle slopes
at the brown summit cairn
Soft underfoot
my feet take me down
the incline
along the contour
I carry a treasure
a singular one
as I approach
the valley
Thick undergrowth
appears
seeming to slow
my progress
but between
the hills I continue
apace
as the growth thickens
A cave now appears
where the river
of life
springs eternal
It is my errand
to go forth
and into the cave
to the furthest I can go
To replenish
the river of life
The sun now shines bright
For my errand's complete
The promise
Calmly the clouds
open and close
A breeze
bends the reeds
The sun paints
patches of
moving colour
shifting east
From afar
I hear your voice
Not a siren call
but a promise
A promise borne patiently
by the wise old ewe
through winter until
she has her lamb at foot
A promise borne patiently
by me
until I behold you
and the dream comes true
open and close
A breeze
bends the reeds
The sun paints
patches of
moving colour
shifting east
From afar
I hear your voice
Not a siren call
but a promise
A promise borne patiently
by the wise old ewe
through winter until
she has her lamb at foot
A promise borne patiently
by me
until I behold you
and the dream comes true
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