Marren - part 1

foooOOOOOMMMMmmmf!

Aieeeeeeeee!

Gude help me! I'm fallin'!...

Aieeeeee!

Aieeeeeeeeeeee!

UNHH! OWW! my wrist!
oww! ow! owww! my wrist!
sae rough, this wall an' floor
sae rough an' hard an' wet
ow! I must hae brok'n 't
de'il-burnt 't feels sae het!
ow! ow! I canna see!
een open, han's ta face,
han's are wet, I canna see them
I see naething! am I dead?
where am I?
fro' th' kitchen I gaed out
past th' low gate ta th' moat,
walkin' close alang th' reeds...
now I remember
th' odd sound inside my head
that ask'd, nae! na ask'd!
mor'n tha'! gar't me gae
to th' reeds! to th' water!
an' th' wee frog in th' reeds,
his voice, 't had ta be,
in th' middle o' my head!
an' 't screechy rasp't ta me
"your father hid ye well,
but I hae found ye now at las'
an' I'll keep ye safe from dread
as I promis't 'im"
how did it ken me?
Father dead fer many years now,
what did 't mean?
ag'in screechin' 'n my head
"here!"
an' ag'in th' odd sound came
askin', skrieghin' 'n my brain:
"reach down, Marren...
in th' water, in the mud...
deeper still, Marren...
here!"
sair afraid, I was, afraid
my han' deep 'n th' mud
an' the ring! large an' heavy
an' 'is voice screechin' steady
'n th' middle o' my head,
louder, deeper
"put on th' ring, Marren,
ben' down an' kiss me, Marren"
agin', ag'in, ag'in
"trust me, Marren, kiss me,
trust me, Marren, kiss me,
now!"
n' I put on th' blastit ring
an' then ben' down to th' water
an' he rose so I could kiss 'im
why? O why did I do tha'?
trust me, 'e said
an' I trustit
an' then fallin', I was fallin',
fallin' skrieghin' in th' dark
owww! hard these stones, sae hard
shoulder, wrist in throbbin' pain
an' blind!
Oh, Gude hae pity on my saul
fer I kenna wha' I did
an' meant na harm!
I canna see my han's
I touch my face, aagh!
my han's, they smell o' mud...
then I can smell! oh!
I can hear naething
but th' ringin' in my ears
naething...
but I can smell! oh!
't is damp an' mouldy here
like a cellar in th' earth
an... ah! a dreep I heard!
I can hear! oh!
I can hear water, whare?
wet sark stickin' ta my legs
I crawl slowly tow'rd th' sound
mus' stop ta rest
an' listen...
dunna ken an I hae dream't it
wait an' hope
for tha' sound ag'in
naething...
Gude hae pity! I must hae dreamt it
nae, I didna! th'r 't is again!
crawl again an' hope 'tis nigh
touch th' wall, I canna see
aagh! na wall ta touch!...
a door... to wha'?
ah! this smell I ken fu' well
ance my father's cellar smell't like this
't is th' smell o' barley-bree!
oh, wha' balm fer my poor saul!
mus' be deep below th' castle
daz'd an'achin' from my fa'!
an I crawl into th' doorway...
use' ta be a cask by th' door
aye! but th' dust... [cough!_rasp!_cough!]
how can 't be, this dust?
an' a caup by th' cask
just as 't was,
but fer th' dust... [cough!_rasp!_cough!]
Aannh! I canna turn th' spigot!
grip hard wi' t'other han'...
unnh! aah!, tha' smell!
nae syn I was a weean
at my father's side
an' he'd come down ta th' cellar ta see Tabor
he an' Tabor, best o' friends
Father'd watch 'im work th' still
an' tegither they would drink
an' talk lang into th' night
an' I'd fall asleep
at my father's side
p'rhaps I've died an' this be heav'n
Oh! Gude, praise be ta Thee
for th' joy you bring my saul!
(gulp) aah! tastes like...
(gulp) aah! canna be! nae mortal bree this
I'm grateful, Gude!
my shoulder an' my wrist 'n pain
wet 'an muddy an' alane
an' in th' dark,
an' bles't usquebae Thou gies me!
(gulp) aah! th' memories sae sweet
(gulp) aah! sae fyne,
(gulp) aah! th' pains an' cares 't tak's awa'
(gulp) aah! dark an' damp an' mouldy 'tis
but 't smells o' heaven
an' these stones
p'rhaps they're na so hard now
on these stones p'rhaps I'll sleep...
they would sing,
Fath'r 'n Tabor
oh! how I lo'ed tha' song...
"O, guid ale come,
an' guid ale goe,
an' guid ale gar me
sell me hawse
an' sell me hawse
an' pawn me shoozzz... zzz...
*** *** *** ***
"Marren, Marren, come awake!
Marren, hear me Marren, come awake!"
where am I? canna see,
een wide open, can no' see!
"Marren, Marren, come awake,
Marren, hear me Marren, come awake!"
voice in me head 't is nae me voice
gang mad am I?
Marren, 'tis me, John!
remember me? Tabor's son
But ye drown'd in the moat sae lang syne
how can ye speak ta me?
Ye only saw my body drown
but I was waukin,
an' look'd down upon ye cryin'
sae young, sae bonnie an' sae sairy,
I weep't fer ye an' Father,
but nane could see
we're in a diff'rent plaice in time, Marren
soon ye'll see...
But where are you? I canna see ye...
Ye 'n' I are ane in this time Marren...
Th' time will come whan we'll be
twa ag'in p'rhaps
soon we'll see...
Amang th' Picts I gaed fer many years
an' fu' well lern't their fearfu' ways
whan they'd ance ag'in attack th' castle
whan they'd ance ag'in come bring us death
I tried ta warn yer father lang syne
wouldna listen ta my voice
thought himsel gaen mad
whan he trust't me, 't was too late,
for himsel an' Tabor too, 't was too late
but I'd told him how ta hide ye
an' promis'd him I'd save ye
from the dread
now ye are like me
an' th' Picts hae come ag'in
ye are safe wi' me fer now
soon we'll return...
Then I am dead!
't is na Father's castle but yer grave!
an' I am dead!
Nae, Marren, ye are now in a time they canna see,
an' you've brought th' great ring wi' ye
an' ye can gae back ag'in
whan 't is time
we'll gae back ag'in
mus' wait fer th' auld castle t' be gaen
fer 't is doom'd an' burnin' now...
Then this castle ...
'T is the castle that ance was
an' the castle ye'll rebuild whan ye return, Marren,
do ye see now?
* * * * *
shards of light pierced the darkness of her gloom
dazzling brilliance overpowr'ing her soul
jumbled glints of blinding spaces in the castle
room on room on room on room on room on room
wincing, straining, threat'ning, striking, reaching, loving
skelp't and skelpin' in a dance of joy in pain
shimm'ring outlines of their spirits intereaving
shimm'ring hues of red streamin' from their minds
* * * * *
I canna see them clearly... why is tha'?
Ye are in a place in time they canna reach, Marren,
't is in rooms by candle lit that they carouse
th' light we see is th' joy in their minds playin'
't is their fun, an' this light, 't is their delight
I was wishin' to gae back an' tak my skelpin', John
fer not stayin' in th' kitchen as I should hae
now I well ken what 't was
that sorely puzzl'd me
ane morn lang syne
at breakfast time
a soft, contented smile
on Mother's face as she sat down
night befor', I'd heard Father gie 'er a skelpin'
she wasna likely ta ferget, I was afraid
but she smiled,
winc'd a wee bit when she sat down
but she smiled,
gart me het inside just thinkin' of her skelpin'
whan she smiled.
Now I ken th' reason why, John
An' I can feel your smile, Marren
from within ye I feel yer smile...

and the rest, as they say, was a matter of time...

for, in time, this came to pass...


ta-klep ta-klop ta-klep ta-klop...

ambling on these windin' roads
me, my ass, my caravan
the folk o' many a castle met
how many maire left yet
until I find ye, Marren?
Gude kens p'rhap but He won't tell
't is up ta me ta find ye

at the last inn was a poet
who look'd up frae his caup
an' said in seemin' jest
ye may not ev'r find yer want
p'rhap ye'll ne'er find it
or maybe it'll be th' next
castle's dungeon dark an' dank
or dusty cellar lang forgot
fer time flows on, it canna stop
fill fu' yer caup, lad
forget yer care, gie up yer lass
time will no' wait lang,
fer ye or fer yer ass

the keeper o' the inn was gloomy,
bade farewell as he said to me
somethin' 'bout Hallow's E'en
't might no' be guid to be abou'
on sich a night as this, he said
aye, 't is dark an' foggy an' cold,
how long hae we been on this road?
I dinna care, whare does it go?
right or left at the first fork?
I dinna care, whare can it go?
my ass, its name's Old Keg
it dinna give a damn
its blanket's warm, its pechan fu'
it flicks its ears now an' then
throws aff the gatherin' dew
sae bright atop this fog the moon
must be near fu' an' shining
't is eerie how in this haff light
ilka drop o' water gleamin'
bare branches, trees outlines
wondrous things ta fill my sight
o' ither things my mind is fu'
thochts o' ye sae bonnie 'n' sad
remembrance o' ye most uncou'

ta-klep ta-klop ta-klep ta-klop...

yer glowin' een beck'n ta me
then turn awa' but no' ta flee
yer bonnie back nests 'n my chest
cup'd in my han' sae fu' yer breast
an' soft agins't my thighs yer cods
tha crease my wan' invitin' sae

't feels sae guid as ye move slow
backin' ta me
yer waist is sweet beyond a' words
atween my hans'
let a' my rowantree club
gently within ye
let a' my wantin'
find its hame at las'

ben' down ta show yer bonnocks twa, lass
fill me fu' o' randy glee
ben' down ta show yer bonnies a', lass
set my philibeg a-jee!

my han's tight held yer supple waist
an' pull'd ye back onto my pole
we took our time, 'twas not in haste
sae deep atween yer cheeks yer hole
ye heard me clearly, allow'd th' choice
then found yer joy 'n its rejoice

I stabb'd ye wi' my fleshy durk
took awa' the tauntin' smirk
Ye really think I'd feel tha' wee thing?
'twasna wee thing made yer heart sing
an' ilka ither place
't was yer happy face
that said I wasna wrang

ben' down ta show yer bonnocks twa, lass
fill me fu' o' randy glee
ben' down ta show yer bonnies a', lass
set my philibeg a-jee!

my bollocks twa your bonnocks twa
were merrily a-poundin'
yer breasts sae firm ag'inst my chest
breath'd hard o' heart a-wantin'
fu' sheath'd an' hard my Claymore sword,
filled up yer glorious scabbard

a vera naughty gel ye were
forever courtin' trouble
I bent you o'er the kitchen table
ah! how uncou' th' sounds I made
belly an' thighs a-skelpin' ye
didna stop till I was spent
breathin' hard atop o' ye

ben' down ta show yer bonnocks twa, lass
fill me fu' o' randy glee
ben' down ta show yer bonnies a', lass
set my philibeg a-jee!

a hundred verses written down
hundreds more rin in my mind
love's many ways we tried
we didna find them a'
but I remember them a'

ye wanted a guid paidlin' ance
just like yer mither got lang syne
hard 'neugh I thocht I'd please ye
but it wasna eneugh wi' han's
ye took sae weel ta sting o' aik
like deuk ta water bright
flame red yer bonnocks glow'd
swollen cods, burnin' cods
face beaming wi' delight
pleasure written in yer voice

't was many a time we did it
an' ilka time 't was better
but ance ye moved yer hand
an' my aikin paddle struck
th' ring, it split in twa
an' ane fell to the ground
like thunderclap the sound
an' lightnin' bolt the light
ye gaed awa' tegither
in the dark o' tha' sad night
I wear what ye left ahind
an' hope it'll help me find ye

Marren, do ye hear me, Marren?
whare hae ye gone? I canna find ye
wha' diff'rent time holds ye so tight
ye canna find yer way or see
by sunlight, moonlight or ony ither
some way back ta me
so we baith can see
this world ag'in tegither

longer, brighter grows th' road,
aboon dark patches starred
tear wisp frae wisp the fog
't is like openin' a door
into a mottled sky
of clouds an' moonlight bathin' a'

ta-klep ta-klop ta-klep ta-klop...

Oh! Gude, how can this be?
ither lucky or gaen mad am I
castle keeks through tendriled fog,
full o' lights its ramparts high
its moat naethin' but a bog
why this feelin' in my mind?
hmm! what will I be this time?

ta-klep ta-klop ta-klep ta-klop...

Hellloooooooooo!

Eit's meeeeie!...Joseeeie!...

a poorre - brrr! - waenderrin'
paidle maekerr frro' th' Southlins!
Och! 'tis cold an' dark an' dank' out heerr
me jaws amaist clench shutte
't maks me King's spiech funny
but p'rhaps ye willna mind
I heupe ye like me paidles,
fer some vittles I could stan'

Some pine (ahem)
fer tastes o' aiken paidles
o' holes fill'd fu', p'rhaps
to lan' 'pon their hurdies
an' redden 'em sublime
ta forget a' their werries
an' leave th' world ahine

fer sich, I hae wi' me a few
to set their bonnocks wrigglin'
an' canes an' strops an' tawses too
to leave them a' a-stingin'

I will trade some o' my bes'
merchandise fer lodgin'
an' if ye need ta try 'em ou'
me ass heer's mos' obligin'

'tis just me'n my ass heer
an' a simple caravan
some hay, some aits,
a plaice ta sleep
we willna need much else
ye needna house us wi' yer guests
th' staible will do bes'

might ye be kine enough
to shelter us tonight?
we willna be a bother t' ye
awa' by mornin' light

(to be continued)

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in case they are needed:
a'=all
aboon=above
aff=off
ahine, ahind=behind
aik=oak
aiken=oaken
aits=oats
amaist=almost
an=if
ance=once
ane=one
anither=another
atween=between
auld=old
awa'=away
barley-bree=barley-brew
bonnie=beautiful, pretty
bonnock=thick cake of oat or barley bread
caup=cup, bowl
Claymore sword=a two-handed Highland sword
cod=pillow
de'il=devil
deuk=duck
durk=dirk, short dagger
dunna=do not
een=eyes
fu'=full
gar=make(force to do)
gar't=made
gae=go (s.)
gae'd = went
gaen=gone
gang=go(pl.)
gie=give
guid=good
hae=have
haff=half
het=hot
hame=home
hurdies=hips, buttocks
ilka=every
ither=other
himsel=himself
ken=know
keek=peep, glance
lang=long
lang syne=long ago
lo'ed=loved
Marren=Marian
mither=mother
nane=none
paidle=paddle
pechan=stomach
philibeg=the Highlander's kilt
rin=run
sae=so
sair=sore
sairy=sorry
sark=shirt,shift
skelping=slapping, spanking
Southlins=Southlands
skrieghing=screaming
spiech=speech
syne,syn=since
tegither=together
twa=two
uncou'=uncouth
usquebae=whisky
waukin=awake
wee=small
weean=child
weel=well
werries=worries
whare=where

from "The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Burns" ©1900 by Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.

"O Guid Ale Comes! (chorus)
[partly traditional, Stenhouse states that only the chorus is old]

O, guid ale comes and guid ale goes,
guid ale gars me sell my hose,
Sell my hose and pawn my shoon
Guid ale keeps my heart aboon!"

aboon=above / up / light-spirited / joyful
hose=house
shoon=shoes

The entire song has two verses besides this chorus. It can be found at the Robert Burns Club of Milwaukee site (link below). They do not mention the comment by Stenhouse and the spelling differs from this book in many places.
http://members.nbci.com/mkeburnsclub/works/rb5/rb505.htm
It is the oldest of the few drinking songs I know.

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