In this second sample from her new collection, Bantam, Scotland’s Makar Jackie Kay pens this paean to Rannoch Moor and to her father’s delight in exploring that wild and wonderful terrain (Poems from Bantam by Jackie Kay, published by Picador at £14.99).

             RANNOCH LOOP

Back here, the iron line crosses future, past:

Then my father will surely be seen

~

Trekking the sodden, lonely land,

Weekenders, together -

~

Or trudging through the ancient pine woods,

The musk smell of red deer,

~

My father, here on the moor,

Years and years after he’s gone,

~

Held by the land’s callused hands.

Och – big hikes across time, lochs, bogs,

~

September weekend or Easter, far flung,

Doon by Loch Ericht, on the west side

~

To the old crofter’s burnt-out croft,

Still a magnificent doss, and he’ll doss there,

~

(Twelve men to the wee hoose)

And rest, rest, till finally refreshed.

~

Rannoch Moor, Rannoch dear.

Beloved best, the best: back here.