The wind swings around to the north, pulling waves against the lochan shore. Rain splatters the paper, clouds nest in their eyries, cloaking this waterlogged land where thieves hide in waiting. I have nothing to give but my willingness to join their league. I too traipse this moor looking for opportunites. I watch.
This was one of the drawings I made yesterday on Rannoch moor. It was the first time I had gone on my own – a long drive of over three hours to get there . I stepped out onto the moor alone. It felt exhilirating. The colours were wonderful – indigo blues, purples, greys and burnt oranges and ochre. All changing with the constant shift of light across the moor, watching as rain came despite the forecast, but then this place seems to have its own laws. When I returned last night I came across a poem from the poet Mark Goodwin – @kramawoodgin on Twitter with whom I am collaborating currently on a project of moor amd mountain. It made me think of Rannoch so I returned the poem to him with the piece I wrote above. Here is Mark’s piece – beautiful, sparse and gentle –
Time of Thieves.
a figure on
a far shore
pulls
the lake’s slick ripples
as a cloth of sorts
towards their
distance
i cannot grip
water’s sheet
i can only watch
as a figure
ravels up
all
that reflects our sky.
dominique cameron 