Anne Louise Anglim (Senior Officer, Young People's Library Service) presents Marie Therese Kielty with a certificate for receiving a special commendation in the Booked! Annual Poetry Competition. Also in attendance are Allan Gordon (Learning Support Librarian) and Fiona Matheson (Area Librarian). Marie Therese's poem, The Homecoming, is published below.

The Homecoming

A maiden fair cam' doon the brae:
- O lovely Earn Water,
O hap me in yer palid o' grey
An'take me as yer daughter

- O Earn Water's braid an' fair
Wi' dimples in its flow,
Like those upon ma true luve's cheeks,
I've watched them come an' go.

- O Earn Water's braid an' fair
The sunlight aff it glances
Like sparkles in ma true luve's eye-
I've watched it as it dances.

- O Earn Water's braid an' fair
Wi' ripples as it pearls.
As tossed an' tangled as his air,
As shiny as his curls.

- That lad that I shall ne'er more see-
Yet still he haunts my eyes.
That lad that I shall ne'er more hear-
Yet hear his dying cries.

-Earn Water was wi' diamonds strung
Whan we marched oot frae hame.
Culloden's noo wi' rubies hung
I wander hame ma lane.

- O Earn Water's smooth an' strong
An' sheer an' dark an' deep.
O wrap me in yer powerful arms
An' lull this child tae sleep."

A maiden fair cam' doon the brae:
She wandered a' her lane.
Ahent her marched a thoosand lads
Died far away frae hame.

Marie Therese Kielty