The Piper Plays His Clans Lament.Story Poem Poem by ivor or ivor.e hogg

On cold grey days, a piper plays
his pibroch on the battlements.
Clad in the garb of bygone days.
He proudly plays his clans lament.

From down below he can be seen
but no one knows who he might be
A misty figure on the scene
Bewailing his clan’s history.

The swank young men who fought and died
in foreign wars far from their home
their sacrifice can’t be denied.
He bids their long dead spirits come.

Come back braw lads where ye belong
Ye have been far too long away.
He guides them home a mighty throng.
His bounden duty is to play.

Should you attempt to draw too near
all you will find is empty space.
The piper simply disappears.
No one has ever seen his face.

The locals know and understand
He too is dead another ghost
Who still obeys his last command
a phantom who sticks to his post.

A sight the tourists come to see
and vainly try to photograph.
of course they cannot possibly.
Their efforts make the locals laugh.

On certain days the piper plays
the tourists have to make their choice
Though most arrive on sunlit days
if he appears they will rejoice.

They have more chance on sad grey days
to see the piper through the mist.
the locals know the piper’s ways.
The legend cannot be dismissed.

The experts may explain away
the ghostly figure. which appears.
But can’t account in any way
for the lament which they can hear.

So they pretend it is the wind
a rather silly thing to do.
All experts have a tight closed mind
and can’t accept the story’s true.

I disregard the experts view
for I have seen and I have heard.
and know that others have done too
Expert opinions are absurd.

Why can’t the learned fools accept
the piper’s presence as a fact.
Their explanations are inept.
Forgive me for my lack of tact.

I can forgive stupidity
Ignorance is an excuse.
I state my case with clarity
most experts are of little use

Outside their field of expertise.
I much prefer the locals view
The piper’s visits will not cease
until he has good reason to.

17/06/2009

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