Humble Beginnings

To the north ancient land of the Tartan and pipe
Came a coal-colored lass with a burden of life.
Tired as she was with a hunger and chill
In a thicket of bracken, made a bed of soft frill.

As she lay down awaiting the birth of her babes
The pain of her labor called all the strength she had saved.
Beasts of the forest gathered reverently 'round
When the tiny gold princelings did make their first sound.

The eagle and falcon called out their glad bans
That a king among shepherds had come to their lands.
They brought to the nest bits of warm food and drink
And the lass with her bairn into slumber did sink.

A young, kilt-clad Scotsman heard the musical drums
And followed the sound to the place it came from.
He knelt and looked into her brown, soulful eyes
And she accepted his help with a deep, peaceful sigh.

He placed the small prizes in a warm, fleecy pack
And carried them tenderly across his back.
To fire, hearth and home on the shores of Loch Tay
Came the lass and her darlings to love and to stay.

Now the kin of the man said, "Ye've wasted gude time
On feedin' an' carin' fer whelp o'this kind!"
"Their noses an' hair are too long!" they cried.
"To see where the sheep run, an' flush where they hide.
"With temper so sweet, how can they defend
the flock from the dangers the moors always send?"

But the heart of the Scotsman knew better than all
That the lass and her young would answer his calls.
With an uncanny skill known to no other breed
They gathered and tended the wily Scotch sheep.

The wolf and the bear were quickly dispatched
By the agile strong dogs to whom Nature had matched.
The length of their muzzles covered teeth just as sharp,
And prevented the highland cold stilling their bark.

The dense double coats, thick as their charges of fleece
Repelled the cold mists, and the snows that could freeze.
A loyalty tempered by kind highland hands
Shone through eyes of pure thought, sharing love for the land.

From humble beginnings the great often come.
We celebrate at Christmas the birth of such one.
Perhaps this is just how our Collies began,
Announced by the eagles and beloved by Man.


PEACE AND JOY BE WITH YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON


From the Collies of Heirlair and their Mistress
copyright 1995


(Thanks Karryn for sending me this beautiful poem)