Sunday, February 22, 2009

Poetry Train Monday - 89 - Turned in the Road


This is my latest found poem, taken once again from one of my works in progress. This story follows Jock MacKeigan, who survives the Battle of Culloden in Scotland, 1746. He comes across the family of the MacBean chieftain, whom he saw fall to several English dragoons. He is taken in and tended, discovering the daughter who nurses him so protectively is the fiancee of his commanding officer.

I decided to go for a bit more form this time. I've used the villanelle, but didn't hold to the rhyme scheme. I wanted to stick to the found poem category.












Turned in the Road


He felt a shudder erupt at images sprung to mind
The soldiers - the soldiers, if they fell upon them
He could hear Montford barking orders even now

Lieutenant-Colonel Montford, engaged to Miss MacBean
Her intended was a good man, as officers went
His voice booming through the clamour of musket fire

Not one to tolerate any loafing. No sloppiness. Unreadiness.
Jock and the others pressed on through the night march to Nairn
He could hear Montford barking orders even now

Montford’s regiment a fit one, not like some, plagued with desertions
Incredible folly, tiring them to the breaking point before battle
His voice booming through the clamour of musket fire

Surprise the English camp - their march halted so often
The grey light of daybreak came before they reached Nairn
He could hear Montford barking orders even now

A weary messenger appeared and Montford bent low in the saddle
So very long before he turned the Scots Royal in the road
His voice booming through the clamour of musket fire
He could hear Montford barking orders even now

- Julia Smith - 2009

You can read excerpts from this story here and here and here.

Ride the Poetry Train!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Always an education visiting your posts - thanks.

floreta said...

i find your found poetry always so fascinating!!

Anonymous said...

Maybe you could publish the poems alongside the book some day...

Sherri B. said...

I love the historical tone of your poems...they take me to another time and place.

Deeptesh said...

Seriously enchanting.I'm Deeptesh from the poetrytrain.Pls visit me at www.deepteshpoetry.blogspot.com.I'll b waiting 2 hear 4m u!!!

Anonymous said...

Amazing that you write poetry for your characters. You have a real gift, Julia.

Tumblewords: said...

Another interesting post - you do well with this!

Anonymous said...

I like the way you seem to have taken on the role of minstrel, telling this tale with a bit of song to it.