Grass sings with words that are there at the edge of our remembering, the sounds of words that the grass can still recall.
Hushle
Hushle
the way wind crosses a field
sounding like grass waves
passing through widening circles
hushle
the lightest skiff becomes a skirl
the gentlest sowff becomes a swoof
as a shake-wind blows in gusts
hushle
grass is growing from the ground
moving everything within it
life coursing through every being
hushle
hushle – a strong wind
sowff – murmur, puff
swoof – swishing sound
shake-wind – blustery wind
Peewit
Vanellus vanellus
On tap o the muir, walking hameward,
‘Mind whaur ye’re gaun,’ says granfaither.
Ah luik doon at ma buits, haltit alangside
a scart in the yird, lined wi beusty gress
and heather sprigs. A clutch o fower dusky eggs
are laid in a circle, pointy ends inward.
‘When we were laddies, if we were oot
aa day on the hill, we wad licht
a wee fire tae cook an eat thaim.
We wadna dae it noo, the peesies
are no sae mony as they yased tae be.’
Wallopie wings are flochtering abune us,
whaur a tappit green and purpie burd skirls:
pwae – widdle-weep, i – weep, i – weep,
cheee – o – weep, peesweep
peewit – lapwing
scart – shallow scrape
beusty – of last year’s grass
wallopie – flapping
flochtering – flickering
tappit – crested
How to Call in a Field of Long Grass
For a cat,
Cheetie-pussy, chatty-puss!
For a dog,
Iskay, iskay!
For a rabbit,
Mappie, map-map!
For a hen,
Chookay, tuck-tuck!
For a pig,
Gussie, gus-gus, grumfay!
For a calf,
Sucky, souk-souk,
troo, troo, troo!
For a cow,
Hurlie, hurlie-hawkie,
pree-leddy, proochie, chay!
For a horse,
Coap, coap, jee-up, how!
Woa.
Stawn.
Baak, Baak.
Pendulous Sedge
Carex pendula
The wind gaes reeshlin through risp gress
till a wheesht comes at the stillin o the air:
quaiet gies a sough, mair a glisk nor a soond.
risp gress – sedges
wheesht – silence, hush
sough – whisper, murmur
glisk – perception
WHEN THE GRASS DANCES 