POET'S CORNER; The Chieftain and His Lady

The Meeting on the Turret Stair 

The Chieftain and His Lady

Come live with me across the Glen

I'm chieftain of a thousand men

Marry me and be my wife

And I will love you all my life

I cannot marry you Chief so brave

I must wed a lord and not a knave

And though my heart is yours forever

My hand is promised to another

Who is this rich and mighty lord?!

I'll fight for you at point of sword

Tell me where he lies this night

I'll duel with him come morning light!

A lady must not her duty shirk;

Pray, put away your Chieftain's dirk

My word was given long ago

To your offer of marriage, I must say no

Gentle lady, sweet lassie so fair

You gave to me a lock of hair

And now you say you are not free

To pledge your hand unto me?

I gave my hair, that is true

It was wrong of me and this I knew

Pray, keep it as a token

Of three words once softly spoken

Come flee with me across the Glen

You'll be protected by a thousand men!

Our marriage bed shall be the heather

From this day forth we'll be together!

I cannot run; I dare not flee

I dare not run away with thee

There is nowhere safe for us to go...

Though I truly wish it were not so

You love me then, that much is true

You love me then as I love you

You're my lassie, can't you see

That I would give my life for thee?

I love you, yes, with all my heart

But still you know we have to part

Even now I quake with fear

That my father may yet find you here

Then come with me! We'll go tonight

By cover of darkness we'll both take flight

We'll leave your clothes by Loch Ness-side

They'll think you swept beneath the tide

He held his hand out to his love;

She grabbed her bonnet, cloak and gloves

Then fast across the Glen they rode

Eloping to true love's abode.

By Marie Bruce

I wrote this poem many years ago, inspired by a handsome Scots soldier.  Although circumstances meant that we couldn't be together at the time, I used poetry to give us the chance we never had.  I like to think that in another time and space, we are living out our own happy ever after.  For now, it's enough that our liaison is captured forever in poetry.