the soul of one
who's found the way home
eases like water
over a stone

after William Johnstone

I. Ettrick Marshes

the boardwalk bears us above the roots
of goat willow, crack willow, osier, sallow
buzzing with catkins

sentimental, anachronistic
the beech stays true to last year's shades
matched only by a last few haws

Scots pine dance slow contortions
against pale slopes and a sky
breaking into blue

pitched up on the slope
the birdhide has its back
to spruce plantations