kirstenin -
the bairn an the watter
groozlin thegither




christening -
the baby and the water
gurgling together

catchit i the pent
a peerie flee - its weeng
glentin i the licht




caught in the paint
a tiny fly - its wing
flashing in the light

tuim playgrun -
leaves rowin ower
the peever beds




empty playground -
leaves rolling over
the hopscotch beds

the maggie haps
frae brainch tae brainch -
the bodachs daffin at chess




the magpie hops
from branch to branch -
the old men playing chess

in the bucket
amang the yill bottles -
a hairst muin




in the dustbin
among the beer bottles -
a harvest moon

frae door tae door -
the postie
the craw




from door to door -
the postman
the crow


(for my grandmother who thought a bird at the window
was a harbinger of bad news)

snell mornin
the bairns' reid nebs -
hollin-berries tae




cold morning
the childrens' red faces -
holly-berries too

leaves
the colour o deuks' nebs -
amang the deuks' nebs




leaves
the colour of ducks' bills -
among the ducks' bills

his wab
spreids athort the winnock -
blinterin colours




his web
spreads across the window -
flickering colours

a hinmaist leam o sin -
a wesp beeks's feet
on the letterbox




a last ray of sun -
a wasp warms his feet
on the letterbox

screedin aff
the poor's-hoose makar -
a bog corses the page




reading aloud
the skid row poet -
a bug crosses the page

(for Buk)

in the yin sinny cheer -
tentie o the oam's
cheengin pattrens




in the one sunny chair -
watching the condensation's
changing patterns

untouchit brummles
glister -
naebodie cums




untouched brambles
glitter -
no one comes

keek o day -
the postie's reid bag
boabbin




sunrise -
the postman's red bag
bobbing

hail-water -
snail in's glore
steeks oot's chist




torrential rain -
snail in his element
sticks out his chest

the drouthie's gairden -
twa reid aipples gove
at the bleck-ee'd susan




the drunkard's garden -
two red apples stare
at the black-eyed susan

on her hunkers
settin oot neist year's bulbs -
the cailleach




on her knees
planting next year's bulbs -
the old lady

a hinmaist koi yirdit -
anely sheddaes nou
in the dub




a last koi buried -
only shadows now
in the pond

hairst wund -
a lang wab-threid
pits oot fause news




autumn wind -
a long web-thread
sends false messages

biggin a shrine
Reid Rab tentie -
the verra dab...sum reid!




building a shrine
a robin watches -
just what's needed...some red!