A week spent in Donegal
in a cosy wee cottage
near Muckish Mountain.

Using maps, we explore
quiet, meandering country roads
past deserted stone cottages
and hidden lakes.
Sign-posted trails lead us
along stony tracks.

As Muckish Mountain
towers behind us,
its steep, dark slopes
reminiscent
of a giant, outstretched
slumbering pig,
I make a mental note
that Muckish is aptly named –
its name means
“Pig Mountain”.

A buzzard soars overhead,
a cuckoo calls in the forest
and, in the evening,
a shy deer steps daintily away
as she grazes
in the heather.

Brisk walks
along mile after mile
of golden strands
and lazy afternoons
drinking coffee,
and dandering along sandy coves
by shimmering waters.

Scrabble and Monopoly
in the evenings.

Thank you, Lord,
for a whole week
of quiet, family time –
unrushed, unhurried,
unworried.

Perfect!

© Claire Murray, 30th June 2022