A bothy night

The fire burns gently
Chairs gathered close
The last gasp of light
Glints through the small window

Steam issues from breath
One long room
Heat at one end
Cold at other

Another handful of coal
Thrust into the frontless grate
Candles flicker,
Only given light here

The door unopened
No visitors tonight
The choice of space
A floor for all

The stove hisses gently
Water from stream
Tea made, mugs filled
The promise of supper later

The bottles warm
In the ingle of the nook
Claret is the order
Rab frowns, it was his

Glasses filled
Claret, the drink of kings
Shared by paupers
Friends among friends

Conversations shared
The world to rights
No logic, none needed
No subject discarded

Nature calls, Spade collected
Don’t ask a person
Spade and loo roll,
It’s obvious, toilet alfresco.

Sleeping bags laid out
Floor space readied
Jacket become pillows
Sleep is wanted

Snores exhausted
First asleep wins
Others fluster
Fire maintained

Bellies full
Bladders bursting
The bottle’s empty
The friendships full