Come all you folk from Southern parts, who never kent the lack
Of bread, of peat, of siller bright, of claes to warm your back,
I’ll tell you of the Hieland quines who walk the lonely glen,
Who tend the kine and bake the bread alone, without their men.
When Hielanders took up the sword for Cherlie or the King
According to their Chieftain’s will, they left us wondering
If ever they would hasten back to lonely but-and-ben;
They went to war, the load we bore alone, without our men.
When all the clans were gathered, in the year of forty-five,
No lassie kent if she would see her man again – alive!
When Chieftains call men march away and pass beyond our ken;
Who says we are not touched by war, alone without our men?
The water will not fetch itself, no ghost can milk the kine;
The toil of fields and greeting wains – the labour of a quine.
Though hawks may fly above the clouds, forget not Jenny Wren
Who tends her nest, nor Hieland quines alone, without their men.
With war long past, the factor sternly said he’d take our land
For sheep. Such men-folk as remained, in meekness, quit our land.
From Glasgow or from Canada a letter now-and-then
Reminded us we laboured still alone, without our men.
Our plaids of red and green, our songs, our lovely Gaelic tongue –
The language of bright Eden – all the birthright of our young
Was sold for naught, and bought as cheap! By stroke of landlord’s pen
The Hieland quines are gypsies now, alone without their men!
A curse upon each landlord who robs children of their home,
A curse on every factor who sends women out to roam,
On lawyers and on ministers fall curses ten-times-ten –
A curse as fell as we have borne alone, without our men!
Author notes
Scots glossary and notes:
Hieland Quines – Highland women. Actually, the word "quine" is not often heard outside NE Scotland, where they speak a Lowland dialect. I have used Lowland words in this poem, because they are easily identified with Scotland as a whole.
kent – knew
siller – money
claes – clothes
kine – cows, cattle
“Cherlie or the King” – “Cherlie”, from the Gaelic “Tearlach” means Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the “Young Pretender”. Clans were called out by their Chiefs, some to fight for the Jacobite cause, some to fight for the Crown, depending on the Chief’s allegiance.
but-and-ben – a small, two-roomed cottage
greeting wains – weeping children
factor – a Highland landowner’s Estate Manager
“The language of bright Eden” – Gaelic, poetically called by its speakers “the tongue of the Garden of Eden” because of its unalloyed antiquity.
In a list
A contest entry
- Women of the West/ Frontier/Highlands/ Wilderness/Outback #72 by Winklings.
2600 points, ended May 6, 8 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
.
Comments
1 - 24 of 24
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Perfection in verse. Absolute perfection. I can't even breathe I enjoyed this so much.
I think your counts were spot on as I never missed a beat in reading this verse.
I have learned a new language as well. Just delightful. What a pleasure to read and enjoy. ~Pamela
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I am glad you enjoyed it, Pamela.
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This was fantastic! I really enjoyed your ballad. It was reminiscent of Robert Burns, and it would be neat to put the words to music.
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Jings! I wouldn't dare to compare my own work to Burns'. Thank you for the compliment.
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although the interpretations youve left in your ANs helped,
the distinct way youve penned this allowed us readers to gather what youve inclined...
and as deep as youve taken me, im afraidto find the strength to dig out...extremely well written, although the 4th line tripped me up a bit
(in flow only)
peace
-ryan
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Line 4: It's straightforward iambic heptameter, like the whole poem. If you imagine the comma one place back along the line (slightly ungrammatical, but never mind), that would split the line into two halves of four feet (eight syllables) each, and might make it easier for you to pick up its rhythm or flow.
Thank you for the compliments - much appreciated.
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a slight overlook, and thank you for the correction...still, a fine work
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The comma stays where it is, for the sake of good grammar. Just giving you a helping hand with the rhythm.
And thank you again.
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Brilliant
Oh I am so happy that I am getting time to read your work as we now can use two computers at once.(the 5 kids use the other one) Mairi, another brilliant poem that reeks with your unique voice and something to which I never tire. Loved every word and will read it again. Wonderful story and moving .. work of a true poet. Wonderful.
Bazza (President, Mairi Bheag Fanclu
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Baz, thanks... but I think you had better learn the keyboard shortcuts and avoid them where necessary
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This is truly wonderful! You have me totally captivated with your story telling imagery. This poem flows to lend the reader a vacation for the mind. I love the rhyme and meter and I love how I learn something when I read your ballads.
Love,
Amera♥
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I seem to be in the middle of a run of "story" poems. I have collected them in my "Bad Salads" list. I am glad you liked this one.
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wow, you're really the queen of storytelling, mairi ... amazing how you compose those verses into colorful bouquets of delightful perfume ...
you're the best, I told ya,
marie, aussi
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I have been bitten by the dreaded narrative-bug lately. So much so that I have even created a list for these ballads. Which reminds me, I must compose the tale of the elphant for you...
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Where is Lysistrata when you need her! Excellently penned. Perhaps we should send women to war and leave men home.
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Last seen supping retsina from a shield. She'll be along shortly.
Bunnies banked, thank you. -
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With kibble and stuffed grape leaves no doubt.
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I write a perfectly decent poem before Lyndon gets up the rules about the form to use so I'm just rewriting it into heptameter and couplets, and suddenly you drop a nuclear bomb of a poem on me!
A brilliant ballad, superb.
At the very best end of Mairi, You are the greatest poet.
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It's called a pre-emptive strike, bro. Sometimes I get to go first, so you can see how high the bar is!
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I'm buying a bloody ladder
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Cheat!
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It seems the ladder was long enough!
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Damn it i Hate curses....This was a well penned piece my Unique one...Thanks for some knowledge and info on your piece. Gives me a btter insight. Best wishes to you in the contest but really, this was awesome...
Love
Passions
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Thank you, equally unique one - glad you enjoyed.
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