Le Temps De L'haute Campagne'. (Translation) . Poem by Michael Walker

This is a very resonant lyric about the South Island high country, the slopes of the Southern Alps. It begins with thoughts of being born, and dying alone, which the lonely upland road would inspire. Red-gold cirrus clouds are shining on snow-white mountain-nature's beauty. The poet addresses a stranger on horseback: 'Ride easy, stranger; / Surrender to the sky/ Your heart of Anger.' These words affect me in an emotional way. I settled for the familiar 'tu'to address the stranger, because they are alone together in a remote setting. The formal 'vous' did not seem quite right.
'High Country Weather' was written in the year I was born.