Benighted in the Foothills of the Cairngorms: January

Cauld, cauld is Alnack …
Cauld is the snaw wind and sweet.
The maukin o’ Creagan Alnack
Has snaw for meat.

Nae fit gangs ayont Caiplich
Nae herd in the cranreuch bricht.
The troot o’ the water o’ Caiplich
Dwells deep the nicht.

On a’ the screes, by ilk cairn
In the silence nae grouse is heard,
But the eagle abune Geal Charn
Hings like a swerd.

Yon’s nae wife’s hoose ayont A’an
In the green lift ava
Yon’s the cauld lums o’ Ben A’an
Wha’s smeek is sna.

A’ the lang mountains are silent
Alane doth wild Alnack sing.
The hern, the curlew are silent.
Silent a’ thing.