Gealltanas

Inspired by an Irish folk song...

Fairest oh fairest upon thy breast red

She wept and she wailed my true love is dead.

 

They carried his body across

the burn and the moor

They carried his body

to true love’s door.

“Keep my promise” he whispered

to his men at arms

“Return I must to keep

her from harms”.

Broken and bloody they

carried him home

Knowing he’d only

be resting in loam.

She heard the drums first

and saw the flags at half mast

The solemn procession singing

her lover had passed.

She fell to her knees cursing

men and their wars,

Age old grudges

and the settling of scores.

 

Fairest oh fairest upon thy breast red

She wept and she wailed my true love is dead.

 

Six days and six nights

the town it did mourn

By his side she sat in her grief,

she was torn

“My love, my life

is nothing without you”

“Oh my dearest” she cried 

“What shall I do?”

She got into bed

and lay by his side,

She begged death to take her,

for her heart it had died

T'was then the ghost

of her lover he came

Crying for forgiveness

calling out her name

“Oh my heart,

please ...please do not cry”

Death has heard you

and will comply.

It was then it happened,

at the breaking of dawn

He took her hand

and with that they were gone

When they came to take him,

to bury their king

All they found was an empty bed

and two lovers rings.

Reviews

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

That was quite a surprise ending... a very compelling piece... it certainly shows the human side of war and the trickle down effect it has when a soldier gives their all.