Vagabond Soul by Bonnie Anne Pinard aka Swansong

When aging winter's slumber beckons dreams,
I journey to a land, my spirit's eyes have seen,
Wild grassy slopes, and windswept highlands arching green,
Overshadowed by a glowering Scottish sky.

Up to the standing stones I climb, barefoot in the mossy peat,
Promise and enchantment, beating like wings beneath my feet,
Spring winds howling, Gaelic angels sent to meet,
Murmuring of lives, and tears, and loves gone by.

I am driven to a time that is long since past,
Away from imprisonment in the hourglass,
A moment of bliss, the bloom of roses fading fast,
There I am compelled, and awaken to.

Gathering my skirts, I swirl, to the music thrumming in my ear,
The droning, mournful pipes have summoned me here,
Where I must chant and dance, that my soul draw near,
To a lover whose face and form I once knew.

The one my heart seeks, I yearn to see,
My bonny lover, is calling to me,
His love song mirrored in the cragged, and stormy sea,
His voice echoes love's long lost, and tragic songs.

Across the cliffs, and through the rain-fresh heather I roam,
Where I long ago, planted hope, hearth and home,
At last to find a love and land of my own,
To the sweet country where my vagabond soul belongs.

There he awaits, atop the highest hill,
His arms outstretched, time's distance to steal,
The winsome lover, my heart does seal,
Together 'midst the encircling stones we dance.

This love by death, shall be reborn,
As ages flee away, and time's fabric is torn,
Never again shall we be forlorn,
Enfolded in flowering, eternal romance.

I am young again, my gray hairs turned to gold,
My face alight with youth, I shed the old,
My soul bursts with joy, my failing heart cannot hold,
Grace transforms my passing, and fleeting frame.

I drink his kiss, the taste of lover's wine,
I feel the burn of his soul blazing in mine,
The glimmer of his burnished eyes, fingers of fire entwined,
My heart shivers, when he speaks my name.

Always Be by Bonnie Toben

I sit here on this precious ground that's witnessed all my life
From laughing at bugs on blades of grass to weeping from pain and strife
Wherever my life may lead me and all adventures embraced by me
There's a comfort within my heart of that special place, which will always be.

All through my life there's been good and bad, happiness and woe
Through all of this lies a comfort in knowing I have my place to go
It isn't in the mountains or a lovely place that overlooks the sea
But a simple pasture that is my constant place, which will always be

It's seen a blonde haired girl that sat and dreamed of greater things
Of believing with all her heart that magic exists upon fairy wings
That some day her prince would come and far away she'd go with glee
And she'd no longer need that endearing place, which will always be

My prince did come along and brought me home to this cherished ground
Up which we built our lives and our true happiness was found
For in this world there are so many things that are beautiful to see
But there's none so beautiful as my home and the place, which will always be.

And through all the things that life does bring, we somehow learn it's so
We're lucky souls who always know we have our place to go
I'm older now and those I've loved are not all here with me
But this ground knows them all and I feel they're all here, in this place, which will always be.

A Hellish Love by Deborah aka Laurelmoonstar

To play upon a heart so poor
So rarely used, was used
To tread upon such honest love
So driven, and so true

He wanted not to be alone
Or die without a mate
He found a heart that could be had
That healed from former fate

I wanted to be truly loved
For whom I really am
A past and horrid fate was gone
Could I be loved again?

Then terror gripped my weary heart
As I began to see
He really was the horrid past
I'd left beyond the sea

The crimson colour hit my eyes
It shined into the night
It took him past my broken door
Into the dark's dim sight

The steel cold things around my wrists
Bit into my blue flesh
The red of all that shone around
The pillows, the walls, his desk

No more will he or any
Hurt me with will to control
I will live my life in seclusion
And my heart will be no more

Be wary and be vicious
Use passion more to spare
Perform what you must, whatever it be
Stop them, for it is fair

Passion I will never see
Love's true and purest form
My lot is poorer and poorer yet
My vengeance, tho, was sworn

Somewhere in the sunlights's path
Loves abiding grace
Is hiding for the young to find
May they it's truth replace.

My Journey to Scotland by Dina

My journey to Scotland, begins in my mind,
Where I can invision the pure beauty, that captures and binds.
As I stroll down a grassy road, towards the enchanted castle for which I seek,
I can feel a soft breeze caressing my cheek.

I come upon a tall lush oak tree, in all it's splendor,
I sit down onto the grass, it's dew so sweet and leaves so tender.
My delicious picnic that I packed, for this such moment to enjoy and unwind,
A lad approaches, he kneels besides me, shares a few stories, he is funny and kind

One day to me, it will be all so real, to be able to walk upon this great land,
For in the meantime, my dreams, are what make it so grand.
I am both happy and sad, as this adventure I now leave behind,
For my journey to Scotland, for now, begins in my mind.

This Forever Dance by Joelle

Upon the dance floor you approach me,
And take me by the hand.
Moving in close
We start to sway in time with the music.

Your hand slowly caresses my back
And I feel like I will melt.
Under my hand I feel your muscles move
Like a jungle cat, powerful yet graceful.

This is intoxicating.
My senses are overloading.
Just being here with you is pure pleasure.

You whisper into my ear,
With your melodic Scottish brogue.
I look into your glorious eyes
And see into your soul.

With this intoxication, I feel myself melting.
Becoming one with you.
Yet it is strange,
I feel like I could just float away.

So immense is my joy of just being here with you....
In this moment.
May this never end, let it last a lifetime and beyond.
For I have found where my heart belongs.

Scotland for Me by Lilyrose

Is A Land of many mysteries...
A country that has inspired many

Through the Lochs and misty mountains
Through the streams and lush greenery
The smell of heather on a small hill..
The taste of rain beyond the horizon..

The hospitality of it's people
Warm, generous, friendly...
Of the gentle winds and breezes...
Of the many brave soldiers....
fighting for freedom...fighting for the love of the land...
Of the many lost lives and lovers of another time
Of ruined castles and stories of the past...

Scotland...A country close to my heart..
A memory that will never fade away

Introduction page to Rottentomatoes.

Poems submitted from Alexandria, Rose, Andrew and Janet.

Poems submitted from Jan Morell, Linda Mackintosh, Janis Bonner and Beth.

Poems submitted from Deborah Ann Barnum, Eloise, Kathy and Peigi McCann

Poems submitted from Karen Richmond, Lynn Ennis Iozzo, Merry Gonzalves and Ruby Wooten.

Poems submitted from Kami, Kath, Lisa W, Terra and Rachel Lovern.

Poems submitted from Mamatish, Martha, Nicholas, Tense L. Smith and Tonya Kimble.