William Soutar

1898-1943 / Scotland

Patriotism

Whan I haik't up to Craigie Hill
And lookit east and west;
'In a' the world,' said I to mysel',
'My ain shire is the best.'

Whan I haik't up to Craigie Hill
And frae the hicht look't doun;
'There is nae place,' said I to mysel',
'Mair braw nor our borough-toun.'

And a' be mysel' on Craigie Hill
I spak in the Lord's ear;
'O! whan the haly bugles trill
Lat me wauken up richt here!

~~~~~~~~~~~

When I hiked up to Craigie Hill
And looked to the east and west;
“In all the world” I said to myself,
“My home lands are the best.”

When I hiked up to Craigie Hill
And from the heights looked down;
“There is no place” I said to myself,
“More fine than our small town.”

And all by myself on Craigie Hill
I spoke in the Good Lord’s ear;
“Oh when that holy bugles trill
Let me awake right here!”
141 Total read