mawin the gairden  -

hauf-cut bummers

amang the sookies

mowing the garden  -

half-cut bees

among the clover heads

ilka day his carer

helps'm reenge the burn

fir crocodiles

every day his carer

helps him search the stream

for crocodiles

lowst frae lockdoon

the bodach

neb-deep in breer

released from lockdown

the old man

nose-deep in a wild rose

throuch the kirkyaird

the wund's wae chanter

...a pibroch fir Eilidh

through the churchyard

the wind's sad chanter

...a pibroch for Eilidh

(for Eilidh MacLeod: Barra  killed by terrorists)

heatwave  -

deed in a fur cot

...bummer

heatwave  -

dead in a fur coat

...bee

 alang the trackside

wull brummles

...railway jeelie we cried it

along the trackside

wild brambles

...railway jam we called it

gallus i the pandemic  -

his pooches fou

o haly medals

fearless in the pandemic  -

his pockets full

of holy medals

swans dunt on the burn  -

twa fedders

panderin

swans bump on the stream  -

two feathers

drfting

island wedder clype  -

washin rope

semaphore

island weather report  -

washing line

semaphore

hebridean gowan  -

sin in a reeng

o cluds

hebridean daisy  -

sun in a ring

of clouds

fite bawdrons

chackin

the creels

white cat

checking

the lobster-pots

bi a roustin anchor

fusherchiels hunker

govein seawarts

by a rusting anchor

fishermen sit

gazing seawards

cumulus cluds  

...Reubens'  wummen

hurkin

cumulus clouds  

...Reubens' ladies

lounging

daith o a priest  -

ablow the saugh swan hunkers

beads faw frae'r neb

death of a priest  -

below the willow swan sits

beads fall from her beak

 covid-19  -

bygaun the beauticians'

 ...tuim keekin glesses glowerin

covid-19  -

passing the beauticians'

...empty mirrors staring

juist be!

wi the renuncin

as gean flourish faws

just be!

with the surrender

as cherry blossom falls

 readin i the gairden  -

 bummer's sheddae

... fou stap

reading in the garden  -

bee's shadow

...full stop

.

In a snell wund

the tosieness

o gean flourish

in a bitter wind

the warmth

of cherry blossom

burds stoor

tae thayr nests

...guis-stappin maggies.

birds race

to their nests

...goose-stepping magpies

pandemic  -

a tuim cheer

in monie a hame

pandemic  -

an empty chair

in many a home