The Bloody Steps O' Trool Poem by Robert Scott Hogg

Looking out o'er calm Loch Trool
from the seat of Bruces Stone
Rises up our kings Muldonach
standing regally alone

Heather, grass and woodland
guard the secret of that place
Where armies clashed in battle
with their hearts and souls ablaze

Many Englishmen did perish
for Edwards name that day
When the mountain fell upon them
and swept their lives away

Men and horses crushed by boulders
all surprised and stricken down
By Scots who fought like demons
and shed blood for Scotlands crown

Those highland men abounded
like demons from the hill
With the swiftness of an eagle
talons ready for the kill

Within my mind I see the fight
and hear the battle's roar
As Bruce stood tall where I now stand
his men with death did soar

'A Bruce' their batle cry exclaimed
This glen is ours again
Victorious they left the loch
Dead Englishmen remained

Oh calm Loch Trool your scene belies
the history you've known
The blood shed thick upon your shores
still taints your banks of stone

And in the night when all is still
therein the wind you'll hear
Those Englishmen on horseback
drawing closer, ever near

Their spectres gaunt, on ghostly mounts
with fear in every glance
Onwards towards their deadly fate
they trudge their horrors prance

Six hundred years and more have passed
but still they walk this glen
No rest shall ever find them
nor them King Robert's men

Looking out o'er calm Loch Trool
I see this vision that once was
When Bruce's men ran with their king
and fought for Scotlands cause

Still battle's rage throughout the world
and men still fight to rule
But the killings stopped for ever
on the Bloody Steps 'O' Trool




Written during December 1996 following one of many visits to the beautiful
Glentrool valley.