destinations

destinations

 

soon after i moved in

new neighbours moved in too

about a hundred and twenty lambs in the field next door

 

they were like me

looking everywhere

but

lacking my years of introspective training

they

were not expecting the unexpected

 

any sudden noise or passing car

sent them hurtlesurfing up the hill

a single empty-minded wave of white

 

then

just as suddenly

(threat forgotten)

the breaker dissipated

leaving strands of light across the heather

 

curiosity returned

 

(i spent a hurried half hour plaiting pine branches into the fence

to deter ovine trespassers)

 

life settled down

the day was all over

baa

the shouting

they

and

i

watched the sun set over macleods tables*

 

i was up at six

loving the dawn spreading over a new landscape

watching patches of alternating sun and shadow

scud across the glen

 

occasionally

a ruminating neighbour would look up

looks like we’ve fallen on our communal feet guys

graze elegy man

this place takes some bleating

 

i watched all this

(smiling at their puns)

then

likes cracks across a green mirror

the flock fragmented again

 

a large ominous truck pulled up by the pens at the gate

three men and three dogs appeared

 

the latter loped across the field

effortless in speeding curves

that were much more than running

they took up their positions

 

froze

 

lay flat

 

then darted like canine electricity

to cut off stragglers

and guide them all towards the edge

 

a little give

a little take

some fancy footwork

jive and hootchy coo

 

but the lambs were lost in more than music

dogs held the floor

 

before i’d even finished my coffee

the lorry was loaded

three floors of woolly puzzlement

looking out like pensioners on a coach trip

as they drove off up the lane

 

me

i had a second breakfast

taking a while to chew over my marmalade and metaphor

 

…………………………….

*flat-topped hills near dunvegan on the isle of skye

 

 

Done