Fifth poem from the Scottish trip


Clan Clash

Clan clash

This rugged isle
is pockmarked
by deadly memories
of battles, strife and bloody war
between brothers all

the clamour of claymore
the brunt of the broadsword
the thrust of dagger through tartan cloth
the brotherhood of blood-feud
unceasing and unreasonable
and immensely sad

I cannot help
but think
that had the cainite drive
to better oneself,
by the removal of competition
rather than approving oneself
by doing the right,
been quelled at the source
and never allowed air to breathe
even for a moment

Then the clans
of the Islands and Highlands
would have linked
and forged a chain of faith
and mutual support
against which no army
in the world
had ever dared to raise its
foreign banner

The history of Scotland
is but the sad post mortem
of Abel's death at the hand of Cain
and the mark on every forehead
turned into a tartan cloth,
merely a noble set of bier-coverings

No wonder that the pipes
are at their best
when playing a lament,
the chanters droning out
the sadness of what could have been
but never was




Poetry by Teddy Donobauer
Read 756 times
Written on 2007-09-28 at 18:02

dott Save as a bookmark (requires login)
dott Write a comment (requires login)
dott Send as email (requires login)
dott Print text


ken d williams The PoetBay support member heart!
Verry good , Teddy , Culloden. Ws the last pitch battle on th British mainland. It bourt an en of the last almost tribal system. In the battkle , it was brother verses brother as some og the regerments on the English side were infackt Scottish. The Highlnders were not infavoure of joineing the Jackobites course. Thea lirds falsde them to joine. Caling in detes and the call of the clan. The outcome was bloody , all over Scotland and with in England. So many atrosatys wre cared out. Unknown numbers who wre killde were fulsde to go to the colanes. Peple wrre fulsde from the hightlands. So sheep coud gase. So dear could roam free for the hunt. The clan leadesr gave up thear own pepole to the red coats. No British regiment has Culloden on thears coukers. Rgerments put great store by thear coulrs ( battle flags) with all the batles they took part in. Gonig back centrys. A book I recomend is: '' Culloden '' by John Prebble''. I beleve the FULL history of theas septike Isle's should be talt. It is all to easy to over look THAT history.
A well writan , pease , Teddy , pardan my rant. Not at yoiur work , no , at this my bloody country .
en ( D Williams )
2007-09-28