I had come to realise that the membership of the Probus Club in Irvine (Scotland) and also its invited speakers could describe a rich vein of life experience and knowledge. And all was undertaken in a manner of jovial banter and a certain forthright honesty. When one of the members described a ‘folk memory’ of the landing of ships linked with the Knights Templar on the Ayrshire coast, this was, as is known, a creative trigger. There was the implication something of great value was taken ashore. There was a link, it was explained, that the Freemason’s Lodge in nearby Kilwinning, claims to be the oldest established Lodge of its kind anywhere. On visiting the Lodge in Kilwinning some weeks later as a club outing, this narrative did not appear to part of the Lodge’s history. Perhaps it was someone else’s secret.
Details of the legend, however, led me to write ‘The Bonny Barques’ which is included in this post. I’m mindful that this might be better as a song. Robert Burns no doubt could have found a deserving tune, well acquainted as he was with the melodic treasury of his native land.
The Bonny Barques
And in the dawn there did appear
A fleet o’ ships that did draw near
To close by the Arran facing shore
That cam frae far wi’ rigging weary.
***
From what countrie far I dinnae ken
Or what the purpose held the throng o’ men
But such a sight I’ll ever cherish
Bonny barques whose emblems flourish.
***
And on the shore the horses gather
Wi muckle carts an’ piles o’ fodder
That bide there idle a’ the time
While daylight rules the rhyme.
***
Then cam the night so cloaked and dark
When grounded was every slender barque
Upon the far reaching of the tide.
In silence they caress the shore.
***
And through the gloom the carts clatter
Though never a word o’ man I heard in banter.
Then cam the glimmer o’ the dawn –
The boats had emptied, fled and gone.
***
And what was carried to safely store
In the short hours on that sandy shore?
I for one hae wit to fathom
Is a secret to share with no one.
***
Douglas Clarkson © 12_02_24
 | ReplyForwardAdd reaction |
