Loch Lomond

Quiet 

hear the waters lap on the shores the ice age formed 

the history 

the battles that raged

the smugglers rowing illegal whisky along its shores

it's landowners

its castles and stately piles

hear the swallows on the wing

and the "tip tap" of the soft raindrops on the roofs of the cars in the carpark

the midgies are missing thanks to the rain and the mist

both of which swirl around us

the wild water swimmers come and go 

back and forth

as hardy as the areas original settlers

tugging their coloured floats behind them 

the peaks of the mountains which tumble down to the waters edge to greet them

come and go too 

the crowning peak of "Ben Lomond" itself hidden 

maybe it's there - maybe it's not

the tourist boats are

plying their trade around the Loch

the many miles of island shores

splendid houses and secret coves 

they also come and go in the mist

leaving only their commentaries

skimming across the surface of the still waters

like the swallows

chasing what midgies they can find

to feed their families 

...oblivious to it all