highland games 2018 (again)

sound wells up from the town

molten silver bright unpools

between old buildings, gold in afternoon

sun, warm. Home. Thrill swells -

All have come here

and each clean note's keening blade

cuts away creeping fear

as from football field the bands parade

with pipes and drums. The dads and boys

girls and mums, sisters brothers

watch proud and whoop as theirs pass by

streets filling till the sky echoes with others'

play and History reels in to Scotland the Brave

as the drums knock out the beat and hearts quicken

to match. This is fighting music and the town

rises, stares tragedy down and marches on