This Story Was First Told To Me

This story was first told to me
By Hamish McMurdo and Morag McFee
They, in their turn, had heard it first-hand
From over the sea and over the land

It tells a tale of warring Men
Fighting to hold a life on the ben
Against the hordes with whom they’d traded
Before, but whom had now invaded.

They came in the morning. They came from the South,
To clothe all their children; put food in their mouth
Harsh was the Winter the ground it was iced
As broadswords swung and chopped and diced.

Shaken and caught most of them unawares
The victims had no time for tears
Only fifteen kin were left alive
They had to run, we had to strive.