poetry
journey north
patches of sunlight on the hills
playful, skipping, laughing like a child
is there such beauty anywhere else?
I’m overwhelmed
stony streambeds and deserted churches
a gull soars above lush trees
freedom incarnate
the earth sings heartfelt thanks for summer
hills all around, protective and sweet
smiling over treasures we’ll never see
fleeting like the patches of blue sky
naked sheep graze on the hillsides
happy for a glimpse of sun
some hillsides bare and lonely after winter’s terror
but flocks of new lambs like new hope
glimpse of a waterfall through the trees
the colors are changing now
rich, dark browns and earthy greens
heather just turning purple
lithe white birch trees
insults of yesterday forgotten
grey-brown rock and peaty dark water the shade of tea
hills like a mad artist’s dream
splotches of black and yellow, green, tan, and brown
ever-changing in the joyful clouds
old stone walls, foundations like bones of the earth
flocks of birds moving as one across the sky
soft beauty here
sprinkling of flowers, glimpse of a river
silhouette of a sure-footed sheep against the highest hill
rainwashed hills smooth as a lover’s touch
bare patches in the heather like secret messages