Moontain Pass

Tha wye forrit
A fit-sair, heich sprachle
Ower stye blak-hairtit roaks.
Coul wat fing’rs,
Shoothers crooched,
Bent dibble wi tha pains.
Nae grup an nae mair püsh.

Apen coul mooth
Lang crack’t a-pechin
Frae breesht tae thrapple
Tae dinnlin teeth.
Tummlin oot
Wairm cloods o puff-baa steam,
An sae half-blin tae aa abane.

“Apen yer een
An tak a luk”, qo He.


Behin, an doon
Tha wye he cum on safter pads.
Tae stap an quät tha clim,
Tae gang hame,
Tae sangs o weans
An lichter, hairtsome thochts,
Faa intae tha dairk o memries.

Ower tha sheddins
Tha blin tap, loast in tha cloods.
Nae sicht nor soon o hoo far
Tha ither side,
Tha simmer fiels,
Or tha lenth o tha line afore him.
Or tae whit it micht be enchor’t.

“Apen yer een
An tak a luk”, qo He.


Graipin forrit.
Tha raip he pu’ed on yinst mair,
An wi tha pu, he seen
Tha ither en.
A helpin han
Tae dae tha pu’in, whan aa bes daen.
Tha nixt life’s coard hel ticht.
Tae tha en.

“Apen yer een
An tak a luk”, qo He.