Sunrise on the Loch
Glistering the orb doth rise
Behind the heather-cloak'd dale
As chittering the wild things rouse
In wake of dawn's cold shine.
The birds they call to greet the morn
The breeze doth slowly gather
As Fey-wove cloth of peach and gold
Streaks the dawn-sky's clouds and draws
Pale rays to spangle the mirror plane
Of shimmer'd waters' depth.
The young boy trudges 'mongst the reeds
A-fishing for his meal
The silvered trout that flip and splash
The slimy eel that slip and squirm.
He casts the net with skill and care,
The little fishes best beware,
For he the hunter patient be
For Little Sister, Mother, Pa,
Anticipate his haul to sup,
With brown-grain'd bread and salt.
Softly little spirits skip
Across the frost-edged lake,
Chortl'ing gaily as they flit
'Cross rippled wave and bank.
Mischievous small mimickers
'Tis they disturbing chilly pool,
A'calling wasps and dragonflies
To buzz about young fisherboy
Attention snatch with jewel-like wings
And half-remembered song.
Resolute the boy doth blink
And drag his gaze away
The childhood dreams be pretty but,
Empty stomach agrees not.
Out the corner of creas'd lids
Childhood memories twirl and call
But fancy-free the boy must be
Already man in work he does
Working class and born to last
Hardship, suff'ring and winter cold.
Silently the poetess
Steps in dew that soaks her dress
Awand'ring in the misty light
For inspiration she doth seek.
The boy she sees, a smile awakes
Amus'd by the frog-ling character cut
As dress'd in green and pondweed-draped
A comic figure young boy seem.
But serious his face remains,
As net he casts for wat'ry yield.
The young boy spots the poetess
Though her presence he ignores
Foolish girl would better spend
This time of morn abed and warm.
With hands a-glov'd and neck a-scarv'd
The delicate damsel lifts her gaze
Views cheeky spirits with mind's eye
Inside her sketchbook charcoals lines
Showing elfin dancers' steps
Her mind's eye is lively yet.
With eyes alight she watches as
Young Fisherboy his dinner snares,
With whoop of joy and face well split
His grin of triumph shining swift.
For fleeting moment dreams return
Heroic stature perchance earned
As sister's happy countenance
Doth float in air before his sight
A trick of Fey? Perhaps, yet still
For moment short his Spring returned.
Young poetess records this too,
Fey and Fishboy share a page
Of youthful glee and childish hope
Oft press'd so small in harsh world's scene.
The Fisher boy now takes his haul
And wanders home with head held high
The mists dispersing, dawn is done
Cool sky's azure in morning sun
With plover's song the young girl turns
Also to home her feet now tread.
Two spirits sep'rate in their lives
Their class, their homes, their knowledge
Two spirits brought together by
The atmosphere of Dawn.