Remnants of A Scottish Childhood

William F. Davidson

Description

William Davidson first began his study of poetry in the early nineties, fascinated by the variety of verse forms and techniques that lend themselves to poetic expression. As a member of Ramapough Poets of Rockland County, he found that this group of dedicated writers helped pave the way for his understanding and love of all things poetic. In Remnants of a Scottish Childhood—a unique collection of clear-sighted, genuine poems—Davidson uses a variety of forms, including a dash of Scottish dialect, which is where his natural inclinations and poetic sentiments dwell. His poems reflect his youthful memories growing up in Scotland. They are filled with love, fear, disillusionment, class distinction, and a sense of wonderment that the world apart from Scotland held a place in its heart for him—and they reflect the essence of the Davidson Clan motto: Sapienter Si Sincere—“Wisely If Sincerely.”

Sujets

• Irish
• English
• Poetry
• European
• Welsh
• Scottish

Informations

• Publié par: Outskirts Press
• Date de parution: 28 juillet 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781478741879
• Langue: English

Extrait

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

Remnants of a Scottish Childhood
English & Scottish Poetry
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2014 William F. Davidson
v4.0

Cover Photo © 2014 thinkstockphotos.com. All rights reserved - used with permission.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Contents
SAPIENTER SI SINCERE
THE SAXONIA
I LOVE YOU, CALEDONIA
DAYS OF YORE
BE NOW HIS REFUGE
GLENCOE
CULLODEN
THE HIGHLAND EXODUS
DEATH’S BOSOM
SONGS I SING
BRUCE’S BATTLE
WALLACE
DEAR BROTHER FRIEND
JUST NOW AND THEN
A SON’S FAREWELL
AULD MEG
RAGS AND BONES
TAKE ME HOME
THE GIRVAN
THE BONNIE RIVER STINCHAR
MUCK WATER
AN EPISTLE TAE A POET FRIEN’
BIG GEORDIE AND ME
ELEGY ON HENRY DAVIDSON
THE SILENT WILLOW
I KISS, I SIGH, I DREAM AGAIN
I’D NEVER FELT LIKE THAT BEFORE
FEW, IF ANY WAYS TO RUN
THE VOICES OF THE WIND
ABOUT THE PAST
A POETIC PANORAMA
A WINTER FROST
AMID THE VALLEY BRAES
AN ODE TO THE MAVIS
AN UGLY WORD
ANITHER YEAR’S AWA
AS WE PART
AULD YEAR’S NIGHT
BENEATH THE WILD THORN TREE
BEYOND THE BURN
CLACHAN HILL
CONTEMPLATION
CULZEAN
DECEMBER
EVOLVING
GENTLE MAUD
IT
KILHENZIE GLEN
KIRKLAND STREET
LAND OF MIRTH
LIFE’S NOT ALL SAD
MY BONNIE LASSIE FRIEN’
THE BEECH TREE
PEDEN’S THORN
MOCHRUM SHADOWS
TO THE BORDERS
THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD
MELROSE
THE ESSENCE O’ HIS SANG
THE GARPIN
WHERE THE STINCHAR FLOWS
NOSTALGIA
THE SOLWAY
THE FOREST
THE SEASONS
THE PEACOCK
POESY’S SWORD
METAPHORS OF DROSS
SAE FAR AWA’
THIS RENDEZVOUS
PREPARATION
UNTIL WE MEET
TWA AULD CADGERS
SCHOOL MATES
THE BIG HIGH-HEID-ANE
THE PHANTOM STRANGER
THE WANDERING GYPSY
WHERE THEN SHALL WE CALL HOME?
THE TINKER WIFE
TWO STATUES
ODE TO THE MUSE
THE SONG REMAINS
WANDERING
THE VOICE O’ REASON
THE CASTLE
THE THISTLE
TIME IS TRUTH THAT NANE CAN FLEE
THE TREMBLING OF ITS HEART
THINKING O’ THE PAST
THE WELLTREES
WINTER
STRUGGLES
SLUMBER
MYA ROSE
WHY CAN’T I JUST GO HOME AGAIN?
RETURNING
I DREAM OF JOURNEY’S END
A CENTURY TOO LATE
THE BALLADEER
GLOSSARY
Contents
SAPIENTER SI SINCERE 1
THE SAXONIA 2
I LOVE YOU, CALEDONIA 3
DAYS OF YORE 4
BE NOW HIS REFUGE 5
GLENCOE 6
CULLODEN 8
THE HIGHLAND EXODUS 10
DEATH’S BOSOM 13
SONGS I SING 14
BRUCE’S BATTLE 15
WALLACE 16
DEAR BROTHER FRIEND 17
JUST NOW AND THEN 18
A SON’S FAREWELL 19
AULD MEG 20
RAGS AND BONES 23
TAKE ME HOME 24
THE GIRVAN 25
THE BONNIE RIVER STINCHAR 26
MUCK WATER 27
AN EPISTLE TAE A POET FRIEN’ 28
BIG GEORDIE AND ME 30
ELEGY ON HENRY DAVIDSON 31
THE SILENT WILLOW 32
I KISS, I SIGH, I DREAM AGAIN 33
I’D NEVER FELT LIKE THAT BEFORE 34
FEW, IF ANY WAYS TO RUN 35
THE VOICES OF THE WIND 36
ABOUT THE PAST 38
A POETIC PANORAMA 39
A WINTER FROST 40
AMID THE VALLEY BRAES 41
AN ODE TO THE MAVIS 42
AN UGLY WORD 43
ANITHER YEAR’S AWA 44
AS WE PART 45
AULD YEAR’S NIGHT 46
BENEATH THE WILD THORN TREE 47
BEYOND THE BURN 48
CLACHAN HILL 49
CONTEMPLATION 51
CULZEAN 52
DECEMBER 53
EVOLVING 54
GENTLE MAUD 55
IT 57
KILHENZIE GLEN 58
KIRKLAND STREET 59
LAND OF MIRTH 61
LIFE’S NOT ALL SAD 62
MY BONNIE LASSIE FRIEN’ 63
THE BEECH TREE 64
PEDEN’S THORN 65
MOCHRUM SHADOWS 67
TO THE BORDERS 68
THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD 70
MELROSE 71
THE ESSENCE O’ HIS SANG 72
THE GARPIN 73
WHERE THE STINCHAR FLOWS 75
NOSTALGIA 76
THE SOLWAY 77
THE FOREST 78
THE SEASONS 79
THE PEACOCK 80
POESY’S SWORD 81
METAPHORS OF DROSS 83
SAE FAR AWA’ 84
THIS RENDEZVOUS 86
PREPARATION 87
UNTIL WE MEET 88
TWA AULD CADGERS 90
SCHOOL MATES 91
THE BIG HIGH-HEID-ANE 93
THE PHANTOM STRANGER 95
THE WANDERING GYPSY 97
WHERE THEN SHALL WE CALL HOME? 99
THE TINKER WIFE 100
TWO STATUES 102
ODE TO THE MUSE 103
THE SONG REMAINS 105
WANDERING 107
THE VOICE O’ REASON 108
THE CASTLE 110
THE THISTLE 111
TIME IS TRUTH THAT NANE CAN FLEE 112
THE TREMBLING OF ITS HEART 114
THINKING O’ THE PAST 115
THE WELLTREES 117
WINTER 118
STRUGGLES 120
SLUMBER 121
MYA ROSE 122
WHY CAN’T I JUST GO HOME AGAIN? 123
RETURNING 124
I DREAM OF JOURNEY’S END 125
A CENTURY TOO LATE 126
THE BALLADEER 127
GLOSSARY 128
SAPIENTER SI SINCERE
(The Davidson Clan Motto)
The essence of this motto is our clan,
Defining us more clearly,
And thus it is the same for every man
“Wisely if sincerely”

It is as ancient as The Bruce himself,
One we cherish dearly;
It is the spirit of our earthly health,
“Wisely if sincerely”

It binds us to an age that is long gone
But dealt with us severely;
Yet as we cease to be, they carry on,
“Wisely if sincerely”
THE SAXONIA
(October 17, 1956)
I remember the gangplank and the pier,
And of my youthful heart in pounding fear;

The billows’ endless rage seemed not to die
As gigantic waves swallowed up our sleep;
But even as the dawn crept up the sky
The old sea-maid proved worthy in the deep.

Land sighting on the fifth day eased the pain,
But the voyage and mem’rys still remain.

Dark grey hills prevailed with no assurance
Their friendliness just hovered on the shore;
Yet mesmerized I gazed on dark St. Lawrence
And wondered what my new life had in store?

Emigration may provide for each new dawn,
But lonely is the heart, when home is gone.
I LOVE YOU, CALEDONIA
I love you in the morning mist
And in the cloudy sky,
Beside the rippling water-falls
Where weeping willows cry;
I love you where the river bends
Toward the ocean free,
And where the sweeping curlews fly
Along a tranquil sea!

I love you as the sunset gleams
And when the thistles grow,
Down by the winding valley streams
Where mountain breezes blow;
I love you when the evening falls
Along the banks of Ayr,
And as the misty morning breaks
That renders every care.

I love you on the craggy steep
Beside the eagle’s nest,
And high on top of heather hills
Amid the peaceful rest;
Yes I love you, Caledonia
You are forever mine,
I love you now and always
Through eternity and time!
DAYS OF YORE
Those wooden soldier boys are mine alone
And toys of youth are scattered everywhere,
But memories of former years have flown.

They all shall see me now and yet compare
To a happy slender boy that they once knew
When I salute them they will stop and stare.

Dressed in my sailor suit of navy blue
I will command them as in days of yore,
And they’ll remain forever tried and true.

We’ll reminisce behind that hidden door
Of days the piper tuned his piercing drone
While marching on that dusty attic floor;

Of all the toys that pass the great unknown,
Those wooden soldier boys are mine alone.
BE NOW HIS REFUGE
Be now his refuge when heaven is near
In view of mountains that shelter the sea;
Lay him down gentle as we shed a tear.

Softly and silently he will appear,
Resting on zephyr wings down by the lea
Be now his refuge when heaven is near.

Moors he has traveled for many a year
But now their beauty, no more he’ll see;
Lay him down gentle as we shed a tear.

His life was fleeting, and even severe,
Only the last call surrenders that key,
Be now his refuge when heaven is near.

Songs of our Father were never so clear
From Lochnagar to the waters of Cree;
Lay him down gentle as we shed a tear.

Blossoms of purple deck his silent bier
Beside his lonely grave, silent and free;
Be now his refuge when heaven is near,
Lay him down gentle as we shed a tear.
GLENCOE
(February 13, 1692)
At five the massacre begins
Amid the wailing and the crying
But will they now repent their sins
As countrymen lie dead and dying?
The tribal feuds refused to meet
A changing world and monarchy,
Their rivalry is bittersweet
And in the end proves anarchy!

The soldiers led but not at will
And up the Devil’s Staircase went,
With written orders to fulfill
And thus began Glencoe’s lament.
Awakened in the dead of morn
And slaughtered cruelly in the fray,
Yet many fled amid the storm
Resolved to rise another day.

A massacre of stunning force
With ranting pipes and tartan plaids,
As knight and rebel trod the gorse
With bloody scarlet on their blades;
The Glencoe heather ran with blood
And Scotia’s Highland life is gone,
Not since the morning of the flood
Has earth seen such a fearful dawn!
Revenge, a cruel and startling force
That prompts and motivates the heart,
Yet not all players have remorse
Or plead thus guilty to their part;
The King’s inquiry of Glencoe
Designed to quell the public rage;
Yet death and devils surely know
That Royal orders set the stage.
CULLODEN
(April 16, 1746)
The day on which Culloden fell
Drummossie Moor was living hell,
The rain-swept heather seemed to tell
Of Charlie’s fate;
And as the force began to quell
It was too late.

With broadswords drawn and flags unfurled
Resolved to kill or to be killed,
While some have fled and some are stilled
On Highland moss;
The carnage of the unfulfilled
Was Scotland’s loss!

The battle lost, they turn and flee
Too weak to fight — yet wise to see,
The heather’s blooming — writhing free
In every glen,
Where future clans might yet agree
To fight again!

The victor’s march was pomp and grand
As spoils of Cumberland’s command
Swept swiftly all across the land
With savage brawn;
They