Time's Relentless Sentence

What an unkind thing, Time.
It steals us away at its leisure
Uncaring in its relentless sentence.
Away from the sweet rain and knowing mists
That are the foundation stones of our souls.
And sweeps us along through itself
To unwelcoming scapes.
We are struck dumb by the change
Looking around at yet another new life's trappings
Knowing without being able to say why,
That we are foreign to here. Now.
That we are native to there. Then.
And we mourn the loss of our rightful home and place.

In the reality of our present life
We are desirous of time to turn back.
Back to when we were last effective on the muirs.
Successful in our challenges
Loved within our clan
One with our chief.
Supportive of our King.

We learn again from our parents and friends
Of the strength of kin
Of the bond of blood and name
And read anew, the stories of our heritage
Of the battles and the honors,
Of the Oaths and the swords,
Of the loss and the Clearances,
Time's justification to carry us away.

In it's fickle way time does turn back
If only for a mocking instant.
At times just enough things now will look like then
And suddenly heiland mercenaries march before our glad eyes.
Glorious behind the targe, claymore held high
Long hair tied behind, great kilt so handsome.
Then an incongruous event, the sound of airborne conveyance
And we are shocked back to unfulfilling now.

So we take a measure of strength from the pipes
That draught of healing that calls back,
The nearly imperceptible memories
And we experience again, the fire in the blood.
Ringing across the ages to touch our consciousness
Just enough to bring tears.

Cynthia Philippi
Story ideas and characters based on the work of Richard Brown