Cairngorms Lyric Resource
The Cairngorms Lyric
Cairngorms NATIONAL PARK Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh
Redpolls and siskins upside down in the birkin branches; In the forest many lifetimes deep.
by Carolyn Robertson
Over 2019, Cairngorms National Park Writer in Residence, Merryn Glover, encouraged people to put pen to paper to explore our relationship with nature. In workshops with schools, communities and visitors, Merryn created a new poem, the Cairngorms Lyric.
Have a go!
The Cairngorms Lyric is made up of: fifteen words*, an element of nature from the Cairngorms, and a word or name of non- English origin (e.g. Pictish, Scots and Gaelic place-names.)
*15 words because:
The Park was established in 2003.
It includes 5 local authorities.
The Cairngorms Lyric is inspired by poetic forms like the Japanese Haiku and the American Sentence.
It has 5 of the 6 highest mountains in Scotland: Ben Macdui, Braeriach, Cairn Toul, Sgor an Lochain Uaine, Cairn Gorm
Its waters flow into 5 of Scotland’s most famous rivers. The Spey, The Dee, The Don, The Tay and The Esk
3 x 5 = 15
A Cairngorms Lyric can be in any language. It can be any line length and use any punctuation. You can include rhyme — or not! You can use extra words to add a title.
A‑slop, a‑squelch, a‑splorroch. Wellies tugged back by the peaty yerth. Playfully we leap on home.
by Victoria Myles
Cairngorms NATIONAL PARK Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh
SCOT CREATIVE LAND ALBA | CHRUTHACHAIL
WOODLAND TRUST