Stane Jock
For the glory of the Highland Division on the night of 23 October 1942.
Atween the mune an' the yird There is quick steel: Atween the steel and the yird There is quick stane!
The man-trap field is fu' o' men Walking saftly. The man-eating mandrakes scream As they bite.
The stane Jock o' Beaumont Hamel Is fa'en doon. There's nae mair pipes in France -- Nae mair sweet croon.
But this nicht stane Jock, Walks in the sand! This nicht I hear the pipes, I hear the band!
There's nane deid but his dead e'en Glower at the west. There's nane living but stepping hard Towards the west.
For the stane fa'n in France Here rises a living stane -- For the mindin' o' men killed Here rises a killing stane!
Yon pinke'ed craw, the mune Sees a field o' strange plants -- Fire and sand fused glassily Into flowers on a wall.
An' the wa' is o' stane, An' the wa' walks Covered wi' red flowers -- A stane striding to destiny!
Gallus laddies a'l Stanes o'destiny! Stane Jock in the mantrap field Walking saftly.
- Poet
- W.H. Burt
- Anthology
- From Oasis into Italy -- Shepheard-Walwyn Ltd (1983)