Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BATTLE OF LANGSIDE, by JOHN BROWN (1810-1882)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BATTLE OF LANGSIDE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Birds sit on leafy bowers in langside wood
Last Line: Are felt on hill and grove near langside wood.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; War; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens


BIRDS sit on leafy bowers in Langside wood,
Singing love songs o'er the flowers in Langside wood;
Then come, my love, away,
Through the Queen's park let us stray,
Up by the old mill brae, to Langside wood.

There's a spell at gloaming grey in Langside wood,
When the silver moon holds sway in Langside wood;
Then in accents sweet and bold,
Fond lovers may unfold
Tales with more charms than gold, in Langside wood.

In fifteen sixty-eight, near Langside wood,
Queen Mary met her fate near Langside wood,
On the thirteenth day of May,
In the early morning grey,
Brave Regent Murray lay near Langside wood.

'Twas just a mile away from Langside wood,
She beheld the bloody fray, near Langside wood;
Dressed in her regal sheen,
Queenly beauty in her mien,
On Cathcart's castle green, near Langside wood.

Grange safely lay concealed near Langside wood,
But he soon his power revealed near Langside wood;
When Argyle came into view,
Like hail his arrows flew,
Then the armies closer drew to Langside wood.

The clash of steel to steel near Langside wood,
Made them stagger, faint, and reel, near Langside wood,
Till her army took to flight,
To the left and to the right,
Down the hill with all their might, by Langside wood.

In the panic of defeat, near Langside wood,
Pursued in hot retreat, near Langside wood,
Three hundred men were slain
Before they reached the plain,
And thus ended Mary's reign, near Langside wood.

Now, no more war's trumpet horn, near Langside wood,
Is heard at early morn, near Langside wood,
But the thrush and cooing dove,
And young Cupid's charms of love,
Are felt on hill and grove near Langside wood.





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