Glen Nevis--Lochaber, Scotland

Majestic, barren, rock-cropped braes ascend—
Arrayed, green-clad, in heather, gorse, and fern—
As mid-day, misty, dark’ning clouds descend
To cold-embrace each soaring tor and burn.

From heights unseen a torrent cascades free,
Unfettered into deep Ben Nevis’ glen;
Then onwards toward Loch Linnhe and the sea,
Through sodden bog and brackened, stone-strewn fen.

Though hidden from the eyes of those below,
Ben Nevis’ surly brow is sought and found
By those who brave the rain, the sleet, and snow,
To scale the cairn that marks its highest ground.

And there, amidst the cloud, God reaches down
To touch and bless fair Scotland’s Highland crown.

								brae=steep hillside
								tor=rocky peak
								burn=hillside stream

This sonnet is one of a set of five sonnets written while traveling through Ireland and Scotland in June 2019. This sonnet was inspired by my climb to the snowy summit of Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the British Isles. The poem is included in my book, "Mostly Sonnets," published by Dunecrest Press and available for sale on Amazon.com.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

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Carber Avatar
November 25, 2020 at 9:58 AM
Congrats James-- I really can relate to this as I'm a 1/4 Scot on my maternal Nana's side--Scotland does still look like the way God had made it.
La France Avatar
November 24, 2020 at 3:36 AM
James, congratulations in Line's, Have You Published contest with this beautiful poem, each line, each word is amazing _Constance
Watson Avatar
November 17, 2020 at 12:42 AM
What an incredible feat and excellent poetic portrayal of the experience, James. You have a real gift for this poetic style and once more, 'took me with you' into that wonderful landscape.
Tweedie Avatar
November 17, 2020 at 3:51 AM
The experience of climbing Ben Nevis was all this and more! I’m glad the poem spoke to you of the breathtaking beauty of the mountain and the glen.
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