To Doug and Morbh

I'd forgotten the crunch of my boots in the snow
And the beads of sweat on my sunburnt brow
The Ptarmigans haunting the grey, sombre rocks
and two bleeding heels despite two pairs of socks

I'd forgotten the feel of a forty pound sack
The buckles and straps digging deep in my back
And reaching the snow fields and thinking 'who's first'?
Of kicking in steps and dying of thirst

I'd forgotten also though, how perfect it feels
(despite the sack and my two bleeding heels)
To sit at the top and share a wee dram
With like minded friends as mad as I am


Jo Horne, Carn a'Mhaim, 15th March 2008