Mad Agane the Moontain Pad

Wha wudnae get Madigain ower the heid o Le forde wi Dinnygall's craa steps an corbell fast an loose lukkin doon on the Croon an Shamrocky road in or oot till ye get Slaimish in yer sicht. The big man's waitin thonner on ye for a wurd an thon man abane aa the while.

MOONTAIN PASS

Tha wye forrit

A fit-sair, heich sprachle

Owre 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 abain.

“Apen yer een

An tak a luk”, qo He.

Behin, an doon

Tha wye he cum on safter pads.

Tae stap an quat 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.