Cuillin Bivvi
Gas hisses towards a dusk coffee.
The squat turret of Mhic Choinnich
darkens just north of our sleeping bags
in their contorted, rock-hemmed niche.
Sgurr Alasdair and Sgurr Thearlaich
are black pinnacles south.
We haven’t said much all day,
mostly just chosen individual lines,
soaked up views, negotiated rock.
Now we talk briefly, gaze slowly,
sip hot liquid, share a smile.
In the west improbable horizontal
fireworks way out on The Minch
evolve like a Sixties light-show.
East, cloud drapes a wild white
banner over Marsco. Our finger-ends
sing from the abrasion of gabbro.
We know we’ll wake as if we’ve not slept,
torn between enthusiasm and wariness
at the thought of the rock blade we hope
to climb by six, before the crowds arrive.
We squirm around, working towards a fit
for human shapes on the few blades of grass.
Finally euphoria overcomes and we drift off,
quietly sure that one bivvi here
is a fair reward for the average life.
Page(s) 60
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