Poem from open mic night

Come dander through the valley

When summer’s ease has loosed us
we dander through her lanes
sky-wide and tree-tall lush.

Some days when world has noosed us
we spangin through fields
crop-deep and farmer-booted.

But oh my love my heart turns cold
when you are wrapped in winter secrets
and hake and hurl the long way home.

Lift up your head my dear
and though we may buks our way
through hard, dark days, light is near

and though I, all hippit, may hirple
and you bamble and striddle
may we always dander my dear
may we always dander.

 
Dander – to stroll leisurely (ireland)
Bamble – to walk unsteadily and awry (east anglia)
Buks – to walk with difficulty as if walking through water (shetland)
Hake – to trudge effortfully (yorkshire)
Hippit – stiff in the hips (scots)
Hirple – to hobble (northern ireland)
Striddle – to walk uncomfortably with an unusual gait (northern ireland)
Spangin – to walk vigorously (scots)

 

Inspired by Robert Macfarlane’s book, Landmarks.