Nicola Daly
The art of keeping sheep
Most nights she lays awake counting the different breeds.
The rare breeds are her favourites.
She takes care to separate the short wools from the long wools first.
She had never kept anything before sheep, not even a secret.
She just lost sleep counting her clients' money as it floated off the screen into thin air.
She has recently decided that sheep are more reliable than stocks and shares.
The crofters are stubborn old hands
Who like rams enjoy butting against her dream to keep sheep.
They don't think she is cut out for country life.
According to the post-mistress she disregards the beasts like biros.
She lets them loose, near narrow lanes,
Whilst she stops to collect bits of fleece off fences.
A pensive woman of sixty who lives next door
Reckons that she has more to learn.
'There is an art to keeping sheep' she says quietly leading her towards the pens.
Page(s) 12
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