He nears Ness. He moves through the marshes much as mud might. You couldn't call it walking; this march matches no known gait. He pours himself forwards; pours, sets, melts & pours again, in a looping flow, learnt part from otter & part from water.
He nears Ness. He moves through marshes, this march matches no one's gait. He pours himself forwards, skipping looping flow learnt from otter.
Willow weaves in him, weaves him in: roots & leafs making & remaking his bones with ceaseless invention a throng of bird song in every direction.
Wrens' notes sharp as needles sewing thread.
Blackbirds chinking like pennies on glass.
Kew-kew scold of buzzards, clack of skua,
The godwit's call which is red and gold & ever the jag & haggle of the gulls
& ever the jag & haggle of the gulls.
So he pours himself onwards noisily through the woods, the marshes & along the beach. His birds are becoming excited. Their songs bright lines looping silver through the air.
From within him he can hear Oven-Bird, Hay-Jack Mavis & Coddy-Moddy, Magareen, Fulfer & the Rain-Bird, all singing the high notes - the oversong.
From within him he can hear Butcher Bird, Shriek-Devil, Howler & Screech-Owl; right in their darkness for what's going on, all singing the low notes - the undersong.
Wrens' notes sharp as needles sewing thread.
Blackbirds chinking like pennies on glass.
Kew-kew scold of buzzards, clack of skua,
The godwit's call which is red and gold, & ever the jag & haggle of the gulls.
Wrens' notes sharp as needles sewing thread.
Blackbirds chinking like pennies on glass.
Kew-kew scold of buzzards, clack of skua,
The godwit's call which is red and gold, & ever the jag & haggle of the gulls
& ever the jag & haggle of the gulls.