Across the bay I see the Langdale Pikes

Across the bay I see the Langdale Pikes
Their shapes like faces  staring   out our grief
With savage slopes, sheer cliffs, inhuman sights

When we climbed, the shadows   caused me fright
As if a godlike painter  filled his brief
Across the bay I see the Langdale Pikes

The sun was hot  and gave us help and light
The hills  were bare there was no falling leaf
From savage slopes, sheer cliffs, inhuman sights

From these slopes there is  no fight or flight
We may fall down, the terror now released
Across the bay I see the Langdale Pikes

We gain a small idea of God’s true might
Climbing high and higher brings relief
From savage slopes, sheer cliffs, inhuman sights

At the top  we  feel a moment’s peace
No longer on the scree  with tense gripped teeth
Across the bay I see the Langdale Pikes
With savage slopes and hollows , our bombsights