Are We Listening?

A grandstanding starling: a car alarm in the treetops,
the blackbird, from roofs
with its sweet summer song. "Hou braw ye sing!"
Are we listening?

(The fleet hawk caught one of its kin.
That sparrowhawk from Yorkhill Park 
has caught a seagull chick.)

Let’s scatter seeds in everyday places.
every street. Stand under the tree 
and know another hand planted it.

A blue-tit eats all ten sunflower seeds and goes.

Faiceamaid a coltas nar n-aodannan fhèin,
Let's see her visage in our own countenances,
A' mhàthair rinn ar n-àrach, ar biadhadh, ar dìon
The mother that raised us, fed us, protected us


Beech trees turn their shimmering leaves 
to purest gold. Let's protect the trees
from getting burnt or cut down.

Let's hear the seasons reveal their mysteries, their promises.
Let's  play like bairns in hinnie licht a bittie, pleiterin  in sang

Old stones and old ways -
in these old bones of mountains
the peat brown burn in spate.

A smiling child skips, 
let’s leap out of our metal monsters 
and join her,

bask in the darkening loch 
beneath ancient blue hills,
the landscape with her warm, vibrant palette 
before Winter.

Let's harness the power of our wild waves.
Today is the day to say - now
Today is the day to ask – how?

Let’s watch the gannets.
Aa i swith dot dot dash raings o laich fleeing solan geese
heidin norward tae ruist for i nicht maun niver be lost

Are we listening?