Scottish Jean Poem by Francis Duggan

She cried out for help in her lounge room she could not make it to the door
But her voice was weak and none heard her and she expired there on the floor
The years and her hard life had sapped the strength from her
last May she had turned eighty four
And she is at rest now forever far south of her northern Homeshore.

Far from her Hometown in northern Scotland old Thurso by the cold north sea
Where she left for the southern Country as a young woman in forty three
Fired by the spirit of youth and adventure she would make the most of her time
The lust of the wander was in her and Jean she was close to her prime.

Some women in love are unlucky and one might say Jean she was one
The fellow that she loved and married in forty eight left her with Kenny their toddler son
To her boy she was a good mother and he grew to a noble young man
But he was brought home in a coffin from the killing fields of Vietnam.

I used to meet Jean in the cafe she loved cappucino and cake
And she still had her sweet Scottish accent that accent one could not mistake
And she still retained her great Scottish humor and her I felt happy to meet
And she was a down to earth woman, gentle and kind hearted and sweet.

I never see her sad and lonely about her she had a nice way
And she never wore any makeup or used hair dye to cover her gray
She never did wage war on ageing and she was one who aged with grace
And despite her years she looked lovely she had such a beautiful face.

A heart attack it was that claimed her and 'tis sad to think nobody there
To lift her off of the lounge room floor and to sit her down on a chair
And ring for an ambulance for her so sad her end does seem to me
Yet perhaps her soul has gone to Scotland to her old Hometown by the sea.




She was such a marvellous woman and her life crosses she bravely did bear
And she never wore any makeup or used hair dyes for to colour her hair
And having cake and coffee at the cafe she is never more to be seen
But her friends will always remember the one and only Scottish Jean.