The Joy of Living

Farewell you northern hills, you mountains all , goodbye

Moorland and stony ridges, crags and peaks, goodbye

Glyder Fach, farewell, Cul Beag, Scafell, cloud-bearing Suilven

Sun-warmed rock and the cold of Bleaklow's frozen sea...

The snow and the wind and the rain of hills and mountains

Days in the sun and the tempered wind and the air like wine...

And you drink and you drink till you're drunk

On the joy of living

Farewell to you, my love, my time is almost done

Lie in my arms once more, until the darkness comes

You filled all my days, held the night at bay, dearest companion..

Years pass by and they're gone with the speed of birds in flight 

Our life, like the verse of a song heard in the mountains

Give me a hand, then, love, and join your voice with mine

We'll sing of the hurt and the pain

And the joy of living

Farewell to you my chicks, soon you must fly alone

Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone

May your wings be strong; may your days be long

Safe be your journey.

Each of you  bears inside of you the gift of love; 

May it give to you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving

Eagerly savour each new day in the taste of its mouth

Never lose sight of the thrill and the joy

Of living

Take me to some high place of heather, rock, and ling

Scatter my dust and ashes, feed me to the wind --

So that I will be part of all you see, the air you're breathing

I'll be part of the curlew's cry and the soaring hawk...
The blue milkwort and the sundew hung with diamonds
I'll be riding the gentle wind that blows through your hair
Reminding you how we shared
In the joy of living