hairst -
the skep's putt
gaein cannie




autumn -
the beehive's pulse
slowing down

chessie shall -
the duntit bed
whaur the conker liggit




chestnut shell -
the dented bed
where the nut lay

hern i the weet -
a fireflaucht glent
... wammlin troot




heron in the rain -
a lightning flash
... wriggling trout

pheelosophie cless -
ootby the winnock
a monkey-puzzle tree




philosophy class -
outside the window
a monkey-puzzle tree

hairst wund -
the owerturnin leaves
o the gospel




autumn wind -
the turning leaves
of the gospel


(The Pope's Mass in Scotland 2010)

hairst -
the maister spreids's
orange hap




autumn -
the master spreads his
orange robe

her alsatian
chattles ma fingers:
prees the dree




her alsatian
nibbles my fingers:
tastes the fear

mornin haar -
atween the treen
attercap's ghaistly brig




morning mist -
between the trees
spider's ghostly bridge

i the perk
craws pikein faw'n aipples
...cooried junkies




in the park
crows spiking fallen apples
...huddled junkies

...gaislins
haud by
i thair fedder boatties




...goslings
pass by
in their feather boats

auld freen -
oxterin'm
oor banes bairge




old friend -
embracing him
our bones collide

his neb
tint in's baird -
een blae eggs in a nest




his face
lost in his beard -
eyes blue eggs in a nest

ower the palin
ma neebor's sinflooer
...freenly neb




over the fence
my neighbour's sunflower
...friendly face

festival rackets -
hedder-reenges
bleemin




festival fireworks -
hydrangeas
blooming

WANTIN:
a tattie-bogle -
maggies reivin the plooms




WANTED:
a scarecrow -
magpies stealing the plums

furst o oor
hamelt aipples:
oor nebs thrawn




first of our
home-grown apples:
our faces contorted

midnicht -
sirius thrabbin
a dug yowlin




midnight -
sirius pulsing
a dog barking

tiggin's kist -
i the derk wuid
luvin een




touching his coffin -
in the dark wood
loving eyes

the scriddan
gudgin-oot the cleuch -
a butterie jigs throuch




the torrent
gouging-out the gorge -
a butterfly dances through

kirkyaird crucifix -
in Christ's oxter,a wab:
flees speldert




churchyard crucifix -
in Christ's armpit,a web:
flies spreadeagled