Today’s John Lennon’s birthday,
Which I knew from teenage days,
When I was part of what became
That magic Beatles craze.
Just yesterday, in Inverness,
I walked by a cafe
Where a sign announced the “Silver Beetles”
Played there in the day.
The year was 1960,
Their first ever on a tour,
But performing a “support act”
And their set list tells us more.
There were 7 songs in total,
Buddy Holly, Elvis, too,
Though no Lennon and McCartneys -
If their young selves only knew!
Now it’s 65 years later,
With my teenage years long gone,
As are John and George, but Paul and Ringo
Live to carry on.
In the skies over Inverness
is light-play on an annual quest
and pipers in kilts come to play along
with the aurora’s lovely song.
Moonbeams shy in aurora’s light
give way to flowing waves so bright.
Cosmic charged particles from the sun
are sure to leave no coloring undone.
Echoes of piped tunes will dance
while colors in sky do entrance;
as high above the highland lakes
the sky performs a waltz of grace.
3-13-2021
Scotland - One Rule Poetry Contest
Julia Ward
It's one of the plus's of living in Scotland
if you are over the 60 plus age band
travel is free from John O'Groats to Dumfries
giving one the opportunity having a free hand
In a land like Scotland full of great scenery
rugged mountainside and lochs so deep
surrounded by oceans east and west
the Atlantic and the North Sea are a mighty leap
So, my favourite trips are to Inverness and Perth
also love Dunfermline, Andrew Carnegie's town
Edinburgh the capital with its wonderful castle
many lovely places in the borders to be found
Being brought up in the county of Ayrshire
I love to go back and walk Irvine's beach
also back to Kilmarnock bring the memories back
there my home town kept me on the right track
So the buses with its many numbers
taking us over 60s far and near
deckers single and double all for free
blessed trips always forever in top gear
CULLODEN FORETOLD
A man he once said ta'e me,
You'll lay on heather, your gut will bleed.
Near Inverness you should na'e be,
Your end is there upon thee.
I paid no heed, jumped to my feet,
Charged through the Highlands, sword in sheath.
Loyalty to the Stuarts was my belief,
and to the end that will be.
The charge has stalled, and is no more.
The Duke has trained his English Score,
to stand and fight, not run as before.
This man who spoke has told me.
On this ground I now will stand,
dirk at side, sword in hand.
Bring on my foe, I now demand,
The day has come, God save me.
The volley came, smoke thick as fog.
We charged into the peat and bog,
They stood as one, and stopped our trod,
and slaughtered all that will be.
And now I lay, my gut has bled.
A man by me, still live, not dead.
A Brit comes near, thrusting as he treads,
kills him and I as foretold to me.
Graham Alexander Devenish
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
Tristan rode the moor
his clan's plaid flew in the wind.
the castle lay near
my heart waited there for him
take me home to Inverness
The gamblers and the mourners
Explore the vagaries of fate,
The expediency of life
Dangling in the capitol rotunda
Like a hanged man
His hair standing on end,
His boots in the air.
Write, sing, boo,
Do what you will
Never mind the outcome.
Words are cheap, they said,
But they knew better.
The price was dust--
Gold dust, that is--
By the ounce. Enough.
Enough.
Swinging from that bough,
Rope rubbing the bark raw:
It was a tree in that rotunda,
Where they hung them high.
Crows roost there at night.
Monkeys swing by day.
The crows fly away.
The monkeys take flight.
Women come and go,
Taking the sight.
Evening is still
Outside where the grass grows.
Obsidian crutches punch the ground.
Eagles fly where they please.
They do not fly near the tree.
Effervescent truly,
Shards unruly,
Dying away like rumblings,
Trains at the station
Puff and wait, puff and wait.
They pull like many horses.
Over in Scotland,
Inverness is halted.
The city is slow,
The soul of the yard.
Fruit ripens all golden
Everything rotten,
Lies on the ground.
Shuffle the deck and draw water
Encamped on the trail.
Sitting here, I've just thought
In here I'm blind, out there I'm bought
Through my doorway I exit, to a wonderous sight
Inverness, on this cool autumn night
As I exit, I witness, what I really want to see
It's the expanse, that will allow me to be free
Tribulations of life in carried undulations
Free's me of my past from my decaying relations
More I cannot tell, for this has to be obeyed
If this I cannot do, I'm internally betrayed
With a skyward glance
I am counting stars tonight
hope that you are too
because every star you see
signify a kiss from me
*dedicated to Mr. Inverness, James Fraser*
For MJF
©050820121900
Eight salty Beaufort striking my face
at the edge of Inverness.
With my hands wide open
I'm balancing like a seagull
in front of the black and angry Atlantic.
I feel your lonely sunset
as you cross the ocean for hours.
I feel your longing wave
as you come to reach and burst out on the beach.
But since I was a child
an unknown star
permanently drives me to chaos,
and it is impossible to resist.
I travel thirsty on clear waters.
I travel hungry in fruitful gardens.
With great eagerness,
that suffocates inside my breast.
With an insistent deputy,
being stuck as chewing gum under my shoe.
This world is so vast.
and this brain, so restricted.
When will I find a beach?
There will come a day, when a Maiden graces the Glens
Alba is where she'll stand amidst the land of Highland men
For her hand will be chosen to be at this clansman's side
And render her heart to he, forever she'll reside
To a place called Inverness, which will claim her heart
Leaving her hurt behind allowing her life to start
For in this tranquil city surrounded by hues of green
Many times we'll capture these views, oh! to be seen
Along the River Ness in whatever season one walks
It's beauty always abounds allowing us to talk
There's no better place to stop to share a loving kiss
In the background her waters flow, soothing, so bliss
Many years have passed, we still walk the riverside
To my Maiden who graces my heart, and leaves me full of pride
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/lorena-2.php
I'm sitting by the river in the centre of Inverness
In a place we call the islands, beauty in capture finesse
It's late into the evening as I listen to the cold grey flow
So soothing in this tranquil setting, inside I'm all aglow
I take this time to pause and close my eyes and listen
For in my mind I picture the full moons rivered glisten
This winter coat instrumental resonates with echoing sounds
Pipistrelle bats and Starlings flock, the latter in roosting surround
Whilst in the distance canines bark in a language we can't even comprehend
The picking up of natures delights, in unlimited voiced transcend
As I sit through these melodic notes I begin to realise
That I am here to hear these sounds and every ones a prize
I'm still sitting by the river in the centre of Inverness
If you ever desire to sit beside me, please do, you'll be my guest
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/inverness.php
This stretch of blue
Through my city it runs
Under bridges of old
And the newest of ones
Through a channel of green
To the Moray Firth
Its idyllic in vista
The view is well worth
Can you imagine
When you sit on its banks
The clear fresh air
In atmosphere thanks
On its bend to its right
In contour follow
On the hill their stands
A view to swallow
In red sandstone build
This structure of grand
Inverness Castle
For the Hanoverian stand
But Spring times the best
Even though, there are buttercups
But when the Daffodils bloom
They just don't seem enough
For the banks turn
From greens to yellow
As if painted this way
By an artist fellow
But honestly Soupers
I can sit here and tell
To be totally honest
You have to see it, for yourselves
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/inverness.php
AC/DC, the rockers from down under
Boston, with Tom Scholz on guitar, sweet thunder
Creedence Clearwater, singing Proud Mary
Deep Purple, from the 70's, rocking and hairy
Eagles, easy listening, bum hugging music
Foreigner, with their Englishman Mick
Gun, from Glasgow, Taking on the World
Heart, from Seattle, just have to be heard
Inxs, singing their Afterglow
Journey, from Frisco, under the Bay Bridge flow
Kiss, in make up, after these Crazy Crazy Nights
Loverboy, from Canada, in concert excite
Marillion, prog rockers singing the lovely Kayleigh
Nazareth, from Scotland, singing Please Don't Judas Me
OMD, with their song Enola Gay
Pink Floyd, just let Emily Play
Queen, without Freddie, but their show went on
Rush, from Toronto, three playing amazing songs
Styx, with Tommy Shaw, their blond blue eyed boy
Thin Lizzy, from Dublin, playing Inverness were a joy
Uriah Heep, named after a character by Dickens
Van Halen, with Eddie, and his guitar rockin lickin
Wishbone Ash, a favourite band of mine
XTC, singing Senses Working Overtime
Yes, with album covers, by Roger Dean
ZZ Tops, singing Legs, those legs need to be seen
Every year, on a chosen date in November
The Xmas lights, are turned on in their splendour
Through our town centre, and along the River Ness
They bring cheer to the season, in their illuminated finesse
On the very same night, Santa appears
He is telling the children that Xmas is near
As they walk through the town centre, singing carols of song
They follow his sleigh, for with Santa they belong
This year is a first, as there will be charity lanterns
To raise funds for so many, who all become our concern
In Inverness Scotland, at this special time of the year
To all you out there, we wish you the best of Highland cheer
My entry into Carolyn's " Christmas in your Town " contest.
http://www.thehighlanderspoems.com/inverness.php
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