Red martyrdom

The warrior prince
with Divine imperative
sailed north in a hurry
out of sight of home

His acolytes joined him
and proceeded further
once he had settled
at the island of I

The Isle of the Notch
found a monastery
on its eastern shore
not to the liking of its ruler

The abbot was warned
upon leaving his master
Martyrdom awaits you
Its colour is red

The queen of the island
her wrath had no bounds
sent her corsairs
to finish the monks

Found at prayer
they requested a respite
until their submissions
had ended

Soon after
their lives had been ended
put to the sword
the queen was triumphant

Sailed over from Moidart
she came up to gloat
Intrigued by that glow
over the new-dug graves of the monks

She followed the light
unaware of its movement
up into the hills
and into the water

Loch nam Ban Mora
now holds her mortal remains
For fulfilling Columba's prediction
of Donnan's red martyrdom

Grulin

Happy were the folk
in the village under the cliff
tending their kyne
leading their lives

The girl was following the path

when the lad came out
he spoke sweetly
and she was soon in thralls

Love is blind
so she did not espy
his strange attire
or misshapen feet

He took her to the
distant loch
high in the mountains
behind the cliff

When she was missed
her kinfolk came looking
only to find her body
in the water

Hoofprints led away
from a circle of seaweed
None dared follow
the kelpie and his prey