I sat alone thinking often of my home highlands
Up on the side of mountains that I knew..
Where one was as close as could ever be
Near to the beautiful sky so mountain blue..
Where eagles glided with such amazing ease
And the freshest air on earth was yours alone..
Brought right to your side by the highest breeze
Up where I was born within a once mountain home..
One could sit and look across the distant valleys
Smelling the wildest herbs and grasses that grew..
Watching the breeze play in the high tops of trees
Often visited by mountain parrots there that flew..
Walking from the porch down to the house fence
And your favourite old horse came up to say hello..
Giving your arm leaning on the fence a gentle nudge
Waiting for a sincerest rubbing pat before to go..
That old axe was still yet stuck in a log near wood heap
Where a once well used hay rake rusted it stood by..
And endless memories were always there to renind you
That all life's most beautiful things all live and die..
As I sat drifting off in the deepest ever thought
All those days gone by came back to fill my mind..
As I smoked my old pipe I removed my hat awhile
And I'm almost sure a tear my very eyes did find..
All those oldest guys back then that taught all I knew
Have all lived full lives raised families drifted away..
But without even trying I can yet see them all
Just as brilliant as they all were within there day..
One can still smell the fragrance of the billy tea
As on a small fire under a tree it boiled hot..
And unwrapping those homemade dampa scones
Brings yet a taste not a living soul in life forgot..
Then one comes to realize that it was all so long ago
However still all as alive within ones very soul..
Having one once again remember that ever so sadly
All things upon earth live and yet they too grow old..