Tessa Ransford OBE, Hon.DUniv (Paisley), MA, Dip Ed Poetry Practitioner and Adviser 31 Royal Park Terrace, Edinburgh EH8 8JA, Scotland, U.K. Tel : 0131 661 1277 E-mail : wisdomfield@talk21.com

Croft The grazing place of cattle   on the rounded seaward slope The passing through, gateway   between rocky outcrops The brow of the hill, suncatcber,   and marshy burn below Make feeding grounds for sheep The place for corn to grow is   in the minstrels' gallery where lark and curlew call The fallow-field with hens and pony   waits for seed to fall These pieces form my land   parts that I make fit together strength of hoe, scythe and spade   bank of peat against the winter Children gather dulse and shells and swim around the place of seals Love of folk, place, work names that make light in the dark.