De Bohun And De Brus At Bannockburn,1314 Poem by Laurence Overmire

Nobleman to nobleman
Might the battle be waged
Brief though the window of
Opportunity be

There the king sits
Astride a palfrey
And there might he die
No match for an armored
Knight on an English
Warhorse
Bred to the bone of
Chivalry

Spur to the hide
Lance leveled
Young blood's impetuous
Charge
On to death and glory

The gallant De Bohun to
Make history

The Bruce
Seeing the ghost
Ride out of the mist
Thundering hooves pounding
Turned
Breast open to the challenger
Calmly waiting to meet
His foe
The lance bearing down
With deadly intent

As the last second paused
A quick twist in the saddle
Horse nimbly wheeled
And a great arm lifted
Axe in hand
One sweeping blow
And down went De Bohun
Skull cleaved in two

The English hope
Lay dead on the field
The battle was already decided
Cunning and courage would win
The day
And arrogance, mighty in show
But weak in heart and head
Would beat
Its fast retreat

A schiltron's nest of poor
Unheralded farmers, craftsmen
Builders and believers
The true blood of Scotland
Sent their message
To all who would be crowned in
Oppression, injustice
And greed
You will not take this land
You will not break this people
Not now
Not ever
While yet we stand
United and

Defiant.

~ Laurence Overmire

(Previously published in The Ghost of Rabbie Burns, An American Poet's Journey Through Scotland, Indelible Mark Publishing,2016)