It is grim.

Well ... you have to go with it...

THE SUN AND THE STARS

I have yet to ski up the mountain side
And for days now the sun has not been seen.
I have circled the mire in man-made tracks
With freezing yoghurt visibility.

This afternoon I sit by the window,
Watching the spot where the mountain should be.
Now is the time - something stirs inside me,
But I haven't long before it gets dark.

A few moments later the wind whips away
Long sections of thick milky shroud.
I lace up my boots and step outside
And see promise written all over the sky.

Time being rationed; I go up the steep path,
Warming up quickly, still protected by trees.
When all I can hear is my intake of breath,
I close my mouth, the air is too cold.

I stop in my tracks when I've passed the treetops,
At once I know this day will stay with me.
I glide across the mountain side
Through powdered silver ridges,
Towards the disc of platinum, setting in the west.
It shines through a sheerness of grey
And I'm flanked by a thousand diamonds,
Sparkling on the crests of this Winter Sahara's dunes.

"Thank you stars," I whisper, "I am watching you."
A thousand voices whisper back: "We are watching you."

Today is our 30th wedding anniversary. This is the official photograph.

There is snow on Ben Lawers this morning! First of the season.

CUSP

The wind whispered gently through September.
I was given calm reflections and thoughts,
Watching the loch in afternoon sunshine.
I was given glowing evenings outdoors
Together with sons here on borrowed time.
For their days belong to other countries.
September is still so recent.
I hold on to their presence, though they are not here,
But light the fire now before it gets dark.
The wind whips through the October landscape.