Poem 66 of 230: TO SCOTLAND, AGAIN
By coach from central Manchester -
In-between stops at Bolton,
Carlisle, and Hamilton -
To Glasgow, these are sights I saw...
Some sheep (daubed vividly with blue),
Filing down a well-worn path,
Did form a long woolly-lath,
Aimed at a lusher greener hue.
A farmer on a four-wheeler -
His canine friend close beside;
A horse not on call to ride:
On leave - a no-shoe non-heeler!
Convex pastures, heath, and moorland;
With flatter grain-plains below:
Cropped, awaiting till-and-sow -
Perhaps with grazing beforehand.
Passed Edwin Waugh territory,
Cumbria’s sharp forms and tones
Compelled sense, off seat-cramped bones,
To their well-honed long-read story.
Further north, farms of slighter falls:
One a black-sheep specialist,
With some Friesians on the list -
All held between old dry-stone-walls.
The Lakes behind, a strong Scotch mist
Changed the Sun to a full-moon
And hid scenery, till soon -
Light, and the wide scenes on Burns’ list.
New farms harnessing the wind’s blow,
Old white-and-grey-cottage views;
Plus pines, espousing the hues -
In distinct leaf-tones - of Glasgow.
(C) David Franks 2003
By coach from central Manchester -
In-between stops at Bolton,
Carlisle, and Hamilton -
To Glasgow, these are sights I saw...
Some sheep (daubed vividly with blue),
Filing down a well-worn path,
Did form a long woolly-lath,
Aimed at a lusher greener hue.
A farmer on a four-wheeler -
His canine friend close beside;
A horse not on call to ride:
On leave - a no-shoe non-heeler!
Convex pastures, heath, and moorland;
With flatter grain-plains below:
Cropped, awaiting till-and-sow -
Perhaps with grazing beforehand.
Passed Edwin Waugh territory,
Cumbria’s sharp forms and tones
Compelled sense, off seat-cramped bones,
To their well-honed long-read story.
Further north, farms of slighter falls:
One a black-sheep specialist,
With some Friesians on the list -
All held between old dry-stone-walls.
The Lakes behind, a strong Scotch mist
Changed the Sun to a full-moon
And hid scenery, till soon -
Light, and the wide scenes on Burns’ list.
New farms harnessing the wind’s blow,
Old white-and-grey-cottage views;
Plus pines, espousing the hues -
In distinct leaf-tones - of Glasgow.
(C) David Franks 2003
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| Manchester to Glasgow by fast-moving train, during December 2019, following heavy rain |
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| A Scotch-like mist at home in Manchester - turning "the Sun to a full-moon"; 19/1/2020 |
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| Glasgow Central Station; 11/12/2019 |
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| Buchanan Street, Glasgow; 11/12/2019 |
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| Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow; 11/12/2019 |
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| George Square, Glasgow; 11/12/2019 |
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| Glasgow City Chambers; 11/12/2019 |
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| Ingram Street building, Glasgow; 11/12/19 |
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| Bridges over Glasgow's River Clyde; 12/12/19 |
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| Some lit Christmas decoration in Glasgow - Buchanan Street & George Square 11/12/19 |
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