Hello there my big Brother Josiah
you've got your Father all in a rage
I can't believe you've been such a liar
you should have told the truth about your age
You're far too young to go off to war
no wonder Mother just sits there crying
we all miss you loads our hearts are sore
we just can't stand the thought of you dying
Hello there dear little Sister Flo
I'm doing fine out here life's a breeze
be home before Christmas, that we all know
before the leaves have fallen off the trees
it's hard to get any food to come through
tho I prefer this to work on the farm
they've blown up the roads and the bridges too
but I'm sure that I wont come to any harm
Hello again big Brother Josiah
you think you're clever, you're really a fool
I can't believe your childish desire
to tell tall stories to your Pals from School
four months of waiting you've still not returned
you were never one for being so late
German's have machine guns, so I've just learned
sorry to hold you up for 'morning hate'
Hello there again my Dear Sister Flo
clearly the Germans are widely hated
I'm in the front line, I thought you should know
and I'm told machine guns are over rated.
I saw a poster 'Your Country needs You'
I said to myself 'I'll fight for the King'
It's taking longer than we thought, that's true
but in the end of victory we'll sing
Hello again big Brother Josiah
I've heard about trenches and the stalemate,
the race for the sea, grenades and gunfire
come home my Brother before it's too late
so you want to fight for England's glory
it's not all about you're day in the sun
you might not be there to tell your story
so who will pay for the damage you've done?
Hello my Dear little Sister Flo
can't believe what happened on Christmas day
we played football with Gerry in the snow
we drunk and sang, it was an awesome display
met a young lad called Hans, He gave me strength
we gave to each other a souvenir
He had such a deep faith, we talked at length
I wear his Cross and Crown and hold it dear
how my heart burns big Brother Josiah
yes I'm young but I've heard it all before
puppets with strings pulled from somewhere higher
face it big Brother it's just not your war
your birth certificate lies in front of me
go see your Sergeant, you've got to come clean
the way forward is obvious to me
tell him the truth, that you're only fourteen!!!
Hello there my dear little Sister Flo
with some disturbing things my head is filled
I'm coming home, the only way to go
I was so torn apart when Hans was killed
Sarge said today ''we're going overhead''
I didn't kill him, I know I was there
many they layed around wounded and dead
I didn't kill him, I fired into the air
I can't forget exchanging souvenirs
bullets with your name on should take you down
when I see mine I just burst into tears
because I was saved by my Cross and Crown.
Ripples
dropping stones into the water
sat dropping pebbles from above
every pebble was called kindness
every ripple was called love
ripples moved to other waters
love and kindness, hand in glove
our lives are like those rippled waters
sharing the happiness of love
River Rase
how quaintly flows the River Rase
through open field and glade
summer sun on sunny days
but winter in the shade
how sweetly flows the River Rase
twenty miles from the start
once you've opened wide your lips
you cannot close your heart
how softly flows the River Rase
a parting full of pain
we cast our woes upon a slate
until we meet again
how gently flows the River Rase
right from Tealby's outskirts
you've a heart that never hardens
and a touch that never hurts
Lepidoptera
sun adds luster to the Butterfly's wings
verdant pasture, unexpected glory
hides in petals as Ambrosia sings
tapestry of a colourful story
dance duple time a fluttering bouree
a fragrance in the florescence of time
emerge on a shimmering summer's day
straight through the barriers of spring you climb
Butterflies dancing in life's pantomime
you can't touch her wings with your fingers
beneath the shelter of fresh wild thyme
the sweet resonance of summer lingers
as a Caterpillar shuffles quietly on by
who'd ever believe it will be a Butterfly!
A Mother's Love
fire gushed forth free and smoke from above
yet nothing but nothing can restrain a Mother's love
'crack' garage with arson gets rid of its crime
Scarlet can take out only one at a time
flames spewed out the garage ferociously torched
Scarlet's ears and paws were so badly scorched
but the family of kittens in there still beckoned
bravely Scarlet goes back in for the second
through the intense heat a gentle cry is heard
the heroine Scarlet has gone back in for the third
fire has burnt away all signs of facial hair
but this Mother just wont leave them all there
eyes blistered shut and a highly singed coat
uncompromising love was Scarlet's keynote
for the fourth and the fifth her loyalty did show
Scarlet held on She just would not let go
for a headcount of sorts did the Kittens await
Scarlet then collapsed in an unconscious state
courage on legs as the inferno blazed
mission accomplished, the world was amazed.
The Bothy Fire
In the past we all used to be human
when as one, we sat around the fire
anger melted you felt like a new man
craved it's warmth as the flames shot higher
but now we're not so human anymore
heat is forced out all over your room
no gathering of driftwood from the shore
radiated warmth of mechanised gloom
all huddled around the Bothy fire
as it spits its sparks out on the floor
here many Storytellers aspire
to tell and refine by telling some more
the ashes of our hearts will not grow cold
we all became one, like links in a chain
kept us alive through the stories we told
maybe one day we'll be human again.
On Reflection
gazing into the mirror surface of a loch
a library of yourself
like looking into your past
but if there is a past then there must be a future
should we not reflect on our present blessings
that we all have
rather than blindly thrashing out old grudges
on the mountain there are boggy sections
these are like unpleasant memories
but in the reflection everything looks beautiful
because although the past can't be changed,
things can be forgiven
any scar therefore can be healed
when we reflect we look at ourselves in different ways
when we reflect we learn
when we reflect we anticipate what lies ahead
like a Snake that sheds it's skin
we let go of the past
it's time to move on.
The Mule and the Stork
Loyal the Stork stepped up to the line
but Stubborn the Mule refused to budge
her love shone through she just said ''that's fine''
Loyal the Stork would not bare a grudge
could two so different really get on
one stiff necked the other one yielding
somehow the Mule and the Stork became one
Loyal felt safe in Stubborn's shielding
now when Stork the Loyal in danger calls7
please be my eternal strength and depth
Stubborn the Mule will walk through walls
perambulate every height and breadth
Loyal the Stork was also stubborn
and Stubborn himself was firmly loyal
they both had a grip as firm as iron
now they flourish in each others soil
when pressure and stress are firmly seated
she glances at Stubborn in sweet ensconce
the Mule refuses to be defeated
at Loyal's behest and never kicked once!
The Great Artist
I had this dream, I was stood on Polin beach
and had the amazing ability to unleash my artistic creativity
before me lay the three imposing bulks of Foinaven, Arkle and Ben Stack
with my pallet knife I worked on their iron grey outline
and used a little charcoal to reinforce their shape
then with short jabs of a pencil I worked on their different densities
I looked at my easel and said that it was good
I painted the sea perwinkle blue
but as the sun rose I moved on to a silent turquoise Jewell of morning
with multiple layers I was able to give the sea a throbbing motion
with a few sweeps of my Fan brush I achieved a perfect arc of coral pink sand
I looked at my easel and said that it was good
gentle stabs with my Rigger brush gave the heather a textile effect
I couldn't resist a passing cloud bank with my mop brush,
brushing Ben Stack as soft as silk
I looked at my easel and said that it was good
I painted the sunrise with a riot of colour
against the backdrop of a seal grey sky
this created a deeply textured contrast
then with diluted brush strokes I gave the cottage dotted slopes
a soft gleam of gold
I looked at my easel and said that it was good
unbelievably when I awoke, the painting was real
but alas! It was not me that painted it
but... if I didn't paint it,
then who did?
Ambosia's ribbons (Golden Hair iv)
beneath the shelter of a sunset rose
Ambrosia's palanquins in repose
ribbons of peace, silver and Wedgwood blue
tho our wants are many our needs are few
cocooned by nature on a lonely shore
golden candy floss floats down off the moor
colourful world in a vibrant soiree
butterflies wings caress the air today
a breeze drifts through your veils without a care
untie your ribbons slowly ... Golden Hair.
M.V (Mountain vision)
there was nothing to watch on the T.V
so I sat and watched the mountains instead
diagonal shafts of light roamed forth free
Foinaven was green and Arkle was red
shimmerings of pink scatter all around
Ben More Assynt stands a towering height
wind harassed lochans like ink pools abound
Hamlets lose themselves and cower in fright
a silvering air loiters and lingers
Beinn Stack a sentinel of russet gold
sky so crisp you could snap with your fingers
cocktail of colours some bright and some bold
tattered clouds smother heaviness above
Quinag is still bathed in soft peachy light
snow fell down just like feathers from a dove
Arkle was Brown but Foinaven was white
the sun sets like a dancing Butterfly
looking out the window the day's soon gone
we go to the beach with the great big sky
and watch the sun set in more ways than one.
T.V (television)
the mist came down on the mountains
so I sacked it off and stayed in bed
can't even see the blinkin' mountains
so I think I'll watch the telly instead!
Different journeys
remember when you started out we set out towards Arkle
you were both young and a little naive the sun shone and the air was sweet
you got your first house we made easy work of reaching the summit
made it your home the view positively exploded in scale
then Children came along but once on the ridge the wind picked up
life became a little more complicated and walking became more complicated
but you held their hands we had to hold on to every rock
yet each decision carried a lot of weight concentration was paramount
as you raised them with heart and soul every decision mattered
ironically they weren't children long eventually the wind subsided
they had established their own identities and we wended our way back down
before long they had their own lives to enjoy the pleasant walk to the road
then you look back on life's long road as we look back to a castellated ridge
and ask yourself... so high and way back in the distance
did we really raise a family? we ask, were we really up there!?
it all seems so long ago now. it all seems so far away now.
The Crofter
Dave the Crofter was linked to the land
He loved the beauty and he loved the bland
lashing down with rain or knee deep in snow
Cattle need feeding so off he would go
a storm or a blizzard Dave wouldn't flinch
He's planning a fishing trip over in the Minch
just before bedtime there sets in a 'calm'
so Dave goes to work on his Mussel farm
Wind to many is still the enemy
no wind here then there's no electricity
Farmer, Fisherman, Handyman, Drover
runs around in a battered Land rover
"I'm the Pied Piper Dave, come follow me
come trust in me Dave and you will see
Come Dave and I will take you by the hand
come I will take you to a better land"
many followed him but Dave stood his ground
his home was tired but his marriage was sound
Sheep, tates and barley, nothing much altered
but many around him slowly faltered
"I'm the Pied Piper Wife, come follow me
come trust in me Wife and you will see
come Wife and I will take you by the hand
I will take you where you will feel grand"
He still loved his Wife they were both fighters
but she was no match for osteo arthritis
She say's that one day soon She will go back
to try to help Dave to take up the slack
"I'm the Pied Piper Kids, come follow me
come trust in me Kids and you will see
come Kids and I will take you by the hand
and I will get your business to expand"
the Kids grew up and Dave had to let go
life on the Croft they didn't want to know
life in the City was so much better
now and again they write Dave a letter
family rights inseparably broken
Dave's work on the Croft is just mere token
but Cows still need milking, Dave's work's never done
last true Crofter under the setting sun
in the end the Pied Piper got tired
He could see that Dave's mind was hardwired
He's buried upstream where beauty meets bland
you can't move Dave He is linked to the land
Sutherland
where the wind howls
where the sun shines
and the hills are full of energy
where the lochs gleam
where the clouds roll
and the rivers run so soft and free
where the gorse blooms
where the birds sing
and the Deer stand staring back at me
in Sutherland
where there's no trees
heather punctuates eternity
Here again
bits of me
fragments in time
like stamps in an album
or old photographs
memories scattered about
I sit here alone
looking up at the Nab
where we had all just walked
turning the pages of the photo album
page by page
I first got my love of walking here
when I was about eleven years old
a lot has happened in between
the River Noe still runs by
it hasn't changed a bit
but I have
and I'm 'here again'
page by page
the lads are back now
the photo album goes back on the shelf
there is a sense of completeness
about a set of stamps!
there is a sense of longing
to the contents of an old photo album.
Passengers - A train journey
we went on an exceedingly long train journey
during the course of the journey several passengers got on and off
we got to know most of them very well and were saddened when one by one they got off at earlier destinations but they had other things to do.
(occasionally we were pleased to see some depart)
every now and again ones who had previously disembarked re-alighted and we were very pleased to see them. With some of them it was as if they had been there the whole of the time.
conversely some passengers got on and we felt like we knew them immediately then they were gone again!
it was a very scenic ride, a lot of the time we were content just to look out of the window, a habit I used to engage in a lot when I was at school.
once we were derailed
we sat for a very long time. Some passengers didn't have the patience and left yet we were soon going again after the experts arrived and sorted us out.
by now most of the original passengers had gone but there were a few who had been there all the way along yet I had never had much to do with them, maybe I should have got to know these ones a little better.
eventually we arrived at our destination I looked at the person who had been by my side for the whole journey, she looked immensely beautiful and incredibly happy.
Media Vita
we soon got to be on top of the ride
an overview of a picturesque land
the ride back down was as fast as a slide
hourglass slowly running out of sand
as the empty glass was getting nearer
our youth came back to sing us a song
as the sand vanished we could see clearer
the Big Wheel ride did not take that long
now we embark on a much faster ride
it runs on memory not on ideas
like a raft caught on a fearsome tide
manacled to the rocks of our fears
I stood on a rock and shouted your name
I was ashore you went out with the tide
furrows on my brow, keeper of the flame
snow on the roof but a fire inside
By a Mountain Stream
gentle stravaig, a saunter downhill
backs to the wind where time stands still
flowing water like a dream
slowly we start to unwind
as I write poems in my mind
sat by a mountain stream
mountain days with azure skies I'm hooked
looks like our day is fully booked
the marble's white with sun agleam
trickling water is nature's song
let us tarry not too long
sat by a mountain stream
we'll sit on spongy heather o'er yonder
press the pause button a little longer
tumbling free from a craggy seam
gently gliding down the hill
draft of water as good will
sat by a mountain stream
Dust
pulvis et umbra sumus
transit umbra lux permanet
dum viviamus, vivamus
de mortuis nil nisi bonum
non nobus nati sumus
provehito in attum
materium superabat opus
post tenebras spero lucem
terminat auctor opus
terminat hora diem
pulvis et umbra sumus
ab oro ab urque ad mala.
please feel free to comment
ktda, Markles.
