Below the Green Corrie by Norman MacCaig: Meaning

mountains gathered round me

The mountains are personified, presented as animated and able to move and react to a human. The effect is somewhat threatening, but extremely original.

like bandits.

This is an example of a simile. The poet is comparing mountains to thieves, but with a particular association. Bandits are lawless itinerant robbers who often live in the open and attack unprepared people. The idea is threatening.

leader

The poet sets up an extended metaphor. The 'bandits' have a 'leader'; a band of thieves, with one most threatening of all, maybe representing the largest mountain.

swaggered up close

He 'swaggers' — a word suggesting arrogance and superiority, suitable for this overpowering mountain range.

dark light

This is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. This could mean that the light is fading at the approach of evening, or else the light that does exist isn't comforting. Even this is personified as 'full of threats'.

full of thunders.

The bandits are now described in terms not of human characteristics, but the natural world. So, two ideas are interwoven; mountains and the elements on the one hand, and a gang of thieves on the other.
This is an introduction full of energy with great impact.

But it was they who stood and delivered.

The word 'But' is an instant change. The poem 'turns'; it is not the mountains who threaten, but they are offering the speaker something. They wish to give instead.

They gave me their money and their lives.

This is a traditional threat, reminiscent of children's cowboy films or similar stories; MacCaig brings in a note of humour here.

They filled me with mountains and thunders.

The 'mountains and thunders' continue the idea in the first stanza, but no longer threatening. Instead they metaphorically hand back enrichment to the speaker. He becomes seemingly empowered by the elements.

My life was enriched
with an infusion of theirs.

Now the poet explains a little more. He is 'enriched' with an 'infusion' - two related words. 'Infusion' can suggest a liquid strengthened with some added ingredient. Here the speaker is enriched and strengthened with the spiritual power of the mountains.

clambered downhill through the ugly weather.

The entire poem has a 'masculine' feel. This line is full of hard consonants, especially in 'clambered' and 'ugly'. The poet makes no concession to romantic ideas of beauty; the weather is 'ugly', and climbing the mountain is difficult.

look goodbye

The word 'look' is interesting. The poet doesn't metaphorically 'commune' or' speak with' the mountains — these metaphorical 'bandits'. Instead it is sufficient for him to 'look goodbye'. The implication is respectful.

marvellous prowlers

This is another oxymoron. 'Prowlers' suggests sinister intruders with dishonest intentions, but these mountains are yet 'marvellous'.

sunshaft had pierced the clouds

'Sunshaft' is clever wordplay; a contraction of 'shaft of sunlight', concise and with impact. It has an almost aggressive feel, not necessarily warm or comforting. The shaft could even be associated with the shaft of an arrow — a weapon of war. And yet the effect is still positive as the sun is able to 'pierce' the clouds. It reminds the reader that these mountains are still bandits and may have their weapons ready.

their leader,

This continues the earlier reference in stanza one; an extended metaphor of the largest mountain being the 'leader' of the 'bandits'.

wearing
a bandolier of light

A 'bandolier' is a type of shoulder belt to hold ammunition, typically worn by bandits. Here there is a comparison between the mountains and the bandits, where the sun strikes the mountain peaks like a huge belt and spills down the mountainside.