A Star Shines in Alba’s Sky
Star shines above a frosty mountain where sheep in summer grazed,
Bright shining ones gathered in vast numbers to praise,
Snow fell to cover the granite rock and where heroes lay in the ground.
Murdered by those they gave a place round the fire hearth,
Raised a glass in toast to their health warming hearts and stomachs both,
In the dark of night up they arose creeping to lift their muskets long,
Ready tae betray hospitality freely given an murder those innocent souls.
In daurk winter nicht fled tae the hills towards the shepherd o the glen,
Rifles spat fire like lightning flash in a storm,
Swords flashed briefly under moonlichts bricht gaze.
Afore hiding behind passing clouds misty haze.
Oot oan the hills shivering in nichts cauld,
Dying amongst heathers embrace under a moons gaze,
Forgotten they lie brave warriors true an bold.
Stars shine down in a highland glen,
Oan Albas finest forsaken people all for a pittance,
What a price tae pay for being a little late.
Andrew McIntyre..28/12/2020.
Categories:
glencoe, anger, angst, betrayal, snow,
Form: Rhyme
Early in the morning of 13 February 1692, in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution and the Jacobite uprising of 1689 led by John Graham of Claverhouse, a massacre took place in Glencoe, in the Highlands of Scotland. This incident is referred to as the massacre of Glencoe, or in Scottish Gaelic Mort Ghlinne Comhann, or murder of Glencoe. The massacre began simultaneously in three settlements along the glen—Inverness, Inverrigan, and Achnacon—although the killing took place all over the glen as fleeing MacDonalds were pursued. Thirty-eight MacDonalds from the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by the guests who had accepted their hospitality, on the grounds that the MacDonalds had not been prompt in pledging allegiance to the new monarchs, William and Mary. Another forty women and children died of exposure after their homes were burned.
the air brisk
as it moves across the clover
rolling thistledown
heart tendered tears cascade
through, sacred sod of Glencoe
Categories:
glencoe, bereavement,
Form: Narrative
Blue sky; the purple hills recline;
brooks skip; tranquillity.
I can’t resist nature’s allure;
my muse joins in;
we three make love.
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(30 syllables)
[Glencoe ~ a most lovely area of the Scottish Highlands]
Paul Callus ~ 10th January 2015
Contest: Somewhere
Sponsor: Nette Onclaud
Categories:
glencoe, inspiration, muse, nature,
Form: Free verse
The snow rests red and heavy
through the valley and the glen,
with MacDonald honor lingering on
in spite of Campbell sin.
Give us crimson wool
to weave a plaiden memory
of the massacre at Glencoe
and deeds of treachery.
Let the stigma of a traitor
forever mark their name
as long as Scotland bears the scar
so recalled shall be their shame.
Categories:
glencoe, history, places,
Form: Couplet