C**k o' the North

The castle was smaller than I’d thought

In the Scottish countryside,

It sat in a hollow called Claymore Court

Where all the defenders died,

The signs of cannon, pounding the towers

Were there in the crumbled walls,

And shrubs grew out of the rubbled bowers

While trees took root in the halls.

 

I sensed a touch of hostility

The moment I reached the gate,

For Angus’s friendability

Came on just a little late,

We’d both attended the Priory School

But that had been way back then,

And I, in parting, called him a fool,

He wouldn’t remember when.

 

But he did us proud with a suckling pig

And a quart of ‘C**k o’ the North’,

Marie, who knew him, was ever so big

And sat with me, holding forth.

I had no mind that he felt so strong,

I’d have left the woman at home,

He had this feeling I’d done him wrong

When I coaxed Marie to roam.

 

And there she sat with a month to go

Way out in front with our bairn,

I didn’t know it would crease him so

But there, you live and you learn.

He coaxed her drink, with a dreadful leer

Pressed on her C**k o’ the North,

It wasn’t as if she was drinking beer

Or water, for all that it’s worth.

 

We went to bed in a tower room

When the moon rose over the glen,

It felt to me like a Highland tomb

As it was to my clan back then,

Marie began to moan in the night

That the bairn was coming forth,

It had a skinful, thanks to Marie

Of that liquor, C**k o’ the North.

 

And Angus heard and he came to gloat

When he heard that she couldn’t hold,

I dropped him there, head first in the moat

To a grave both wet and cold.

Marie and I, we sit in the barn

And the blame swings back and forth,

What price my friend, and a helpless bairn

To a jar of C**k o’ the North?

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Barbz]

I found this piece very emotional, David, worthy of a second and third read...or more! This is an example of what, in a tale, demands attention......as in " And the blame swings back and forth". Art imitating Life! Additionally, through your description, one can vision the small castle and the devastation of the unattended surrounding crumbled walls. All of us have our "barn" where we sit and reflect upon our actions. Adding this to my long list of favorites.....Kudos to you for your diversity....Barbz

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Another good story David.

[ANTO]

Angus - what a hateful piece o' s**t. Well he got his - in the drink. Poetic justice but nobodies left holding the baby yet they are both left 'holding the baby'.

It wouldn't surprise me if you scried this one, for it has a very strong other worldly and other timely feel.
Well done DLP !

[Cathy Wattam]

I like this David and love the phrase 'friendability'. Good rhyming, nice timing, great story, poet's glory.

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the tale in the poem.
"Marie began to moan in the night
That the bairn was coming forth,
It had a skinful, thanks to Marie
Of that liquor, C**k o’ the North."
Had the feel of ancient place and situation. I like the ending to the outstanding tale.
Coyote

[Valentine]

Did the drink cause them to be lax and her get pregnant...or did angus want to get even for being called a fool? I was lost a couple of times with this one. Valentine

[Celie Rose]

I enjoyed reading your poem. Reminds me of the affects of Southern moonshine. "What price my friend, and a helpless bairn To a jar of C**k o’ the North?" Well written and expressed.

[richieb]

Another great tale by the Master, you always use nature in your great imagery. Every line you write creates a new picture in my mind. Thank You sharing. Richie B.

[Jane Winters Rogers]

Well, my review has been taken down for using the "c" word, I can't believe it! Anyway, I loved your latest and one of your greatest poems. I read it several times myself, even googled the word bairn, to find it meant baby, you've have created another fabulous story in that stupendous mind of yours. Thank you so much for sharing.

[David Scott]

Sounds about like the moonshine the mountain folk brew...
A very "readable" and relatable poetic fable.
Enjoyed the write David!