A spread of hills the Ochils my horizon
A thousand feet they rise up to the sky
At their feet are villages the Hillfoots
And beside them the River Forth flows by
To my left a strangely pointed tower
Cabinet for a Claymore so well kent
Climb to the top to view surroundings
City of Stirling from the Wallace Monument
A railway mainline cuts along the district
Inverness to London all the way
Branching off to Edinburgh and to Glasgow
And to Aberdeen Dundee the other way
Three trees of weeping willow
Meet my walking
Long slim branches falling to the floor
A bus goes by my local into Stirling
Very handy takes me door to door
And everywhere green grass and little houses
And quiet days and beautiful fresh air
So different from the cluttered streets of Tyldesley
Though Shakerley was good when I was there
This is my daily walk to keep me moving
Hardly the Great North Run but it will do
Gone are the days when I was running
It’s Keely’s turn – Hodgkinson has that shoe
I take a walking stick when I go walking
It cuts a dash invites some sympathy
I say hello to all I meet so talking
That daily contact healthy symmetry
And if I’m not at home when you come calling
Don’t worry I won’t be far away
I’ll be out in my estate just gently strolling
This place that I call home I’m glad to say
Brian Fahy
13 September 2021
Erris Poetry 