Day 975: Scottish Toast – Non-Limerick Verses: Tobermory

Tobermory is a colorful fishing port on the Island of Mull.  There is a legend that a Spanish galleon that had entered Tobermory harbor to escape the English fleet, blew up and sank.  There is a rumor that Clan MacLean was involved in the explosion.

Our walking trip was never dull
Of fine adventures, it was full
We drove down one-lane roads on Mull
To Tobermory
Seaside town with tern and gull
And a story.

Of the Armada, pride of Spain
Veterans of the Spanish Main
Storms and high winds were their bane
A man-o-war
Was blown up there by Clan MacLean
In days of yore.

Day 974: Scottish Toast – Non-Limerick Verses: Iona

During the sixth century, Irish monk, Columba, and twelve companions founded a monastery on the Scottish island of Iona.  Later, it became a destination of pilgrims and a burial place for Scottish kings.

From Ireland, St Columba came
And built an abbey, in God’s name,
Upon Iona, which gained fame
As sacred place
Where lie the ancient kings’ remains
Of Scottish race.

Day 973: Scottish Toast – Non-Limerick Verses: Fingal’s Cave

Fingal’s cave on Staffa Island was an inspiration for Felix Mendellsohn’s Hebrides Overture.

On Staffa Island, there’s a vault
Of splendid columnar basalt
A nature-carved, without-a-fault,
Cathedral nave
An awesome sight for many a salt
Called Fingal’s Cave.

And when he came to Scotland’s west,
Young Mendellsohn, was quite impressed,
In music fine, the scene expressed,
An overture
To Hebrides, a region blessed
With great grandeur.

Day 972: Scottish Toast – Non-Limerick Verse: Brooch of Lorn

Tradition holds that a MacDougall tore the brooch from the cloak of Robert the Bruce during his retreat from the Battle of Methven.  Called the “Brooch of Lorn,” it was kept by the MacDougalls at Gylen until Leslie captured the castle and took it.

Then Leslie took the Brooch of Lorn
That was from Bruce’s garment torn
Fighting MacDougalls, his foes sworn
In his retreat
From Methven, with his men forlorn
After defeat.