Farewell Juniper Green

[Stuart McFarlane]

From: Stuart McFarlane

FAO: Alastair McIntyre

Hello Alastair,

I'm afraid I can't work the new 'attachment' system to send the poem I mentioned yesterday.

Regards,

Stuart McFarlane

[Alastair]

Just copy and paste it into a message Stuart. I take it you did it in a word processor or text editor of some sort?

Having said that what type of attachment were you trying to attach? pdf, doc, etc. and how large is the file?

Alastair

[Alastair]

Here it is...

Not so long ago you could be deported to Australia for committing a minor crime.

Farewell Juniper Green

Horses’ hooves clatter on cobblestone streets
- and all the grey streets all look the same -
my heart is pounding, faster it beats,
as the police wagon rolls on through the rain.
Now I see tall masts piercing the sky
as we slowly turn into the port of Leith.
For a moment I catch the sergeant’s cold eye.
I’m bound for Australia – tagged as a thief.
I stole a few sovereigns but they say it’s enough
to put me in shackles, it seems.
And the sea is wide, the crossing is rough.
So farewell Juniper Green.

In summer we roamed through meadows and trees-
for that’s where I met bonnie Jean-
I still see how sunlight strains though the leaves,
as we walk hand in hand by the stream.
But now the coach shudders, the rain’s in my eyes
as I step down onto hard stone-
too late now, too late to be wise,
too late now to wend my way home.
So Jean, your hand now place in mine
I shall miss what might have been.
Smile your smile for me one final time.
And farewell Juniper Green