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When writing poetry and songs, a great deal of my inspiration comes from Robert Burns' love of country, people, and history. And their strife for recognition.
On reading of Burns' comments, when, on being given a book to read by his tutor, John Murdoch, of Wallace and Bruce and their fight for freedom, Burns said, "My pride was so great that the blood will boil along in my veins until the floodgates of my life are shut in eternal rest".
This poem was written to all those who share those sentiments. This poem was written on Burns' birthday.
"In the year of our Lord 1314, Patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered, charged the fields of Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsmen. And won their Freedom (which no good man surrenders, but with his life)"
Now, the fathers and their sons and their Chieftains all foregathered
When the stormy clouds of English rule threatened all the land
And the strength of many clans in the colours of their birthright
Pledged their honour and their life to the king of all Scotland.
"And if I don't return", was a brave Chieftain's cry,
"My grave will be the bloody moor of glorious Bannockburn
Do not search for me and weep, for my soul it will be gathered
In that eternal resting place of Scotland's proudest sons."
So the Saltire was carried high, and their foe they did vanquish
And their backs forever turned on the king from the south
Now the crown of Scotland shines with the blood of her clansmen
Who would rather die in Scotland than live an English life.
Now the legacy of their courage lies enshrined throughout the Glen
Where the monarch proudly listens to the Highlander's lament
Though the purple heather drowned in the bloodshed of a Chieftain
His plaidie was his shroud, and his spirit was content.
Phyl Turner January 25, 1994