~ by Raymond E. Lipinski
It was Yuletide when the snow did come,
And a lad dreamed of a girl so fair,
Singing a carol at the river’s bend.
Her enchanting smile did catch his stare
In the icy air, so cold;
In the icy air, so cold.
By day, they walked in the forest light,
Their hearts dance to the tune of love.
And, at night, by the glow of candlelight,
Their passion burned like the stars above,
Like holly and the ivy agrove;
Like holly and the ivy agrove.
Alas, to Ansel the Sheriff she was promised,
A Christmas wedding in her father’s court.
The arrangement made for promised lands,
But she refused to become his consort.
And angry as a Bean Nighe was he;
And angry as a Bean Nighe was he.
He took her by force to lands far away,
In the steep, winter whistling wind,
Cecily wept that all had been lost.
Her bonnie Robert she would not see again.
On her cheeks, bitter tears were stained;
On her cheeks, bitter tears were stained.
High on Mcdeavor cliff, now captive was she,
Locked in the ruins of Abby Lagee.
Her Robert, riding steadfast to save her.
She was chained and bound with no key.
On her knees to St. Andrew she prayed;
On her knees to St. Andrew she prayed.
Ansel was there with sword by his side,
His eyes burning with a crimson blood stare.
Then, Robert appeared in love’s finest hour,
To claim his lovely lady faire,
The day turned to Christmas Eve;
The day turned to Christmas Eve.
So a duel took place on that sacred ground,
Where sinners and saints had prayed.
The valiant, true and strong Robert won,
Ansel now laying still in death’s display.
A fairy moon beaming bright above;
A fairy moon beaming bright above.
The lovers embraced and hand-fasted to thee,
While they thought they heard angels sing.
Rejoicing that true love had conquered all.
And also, the birth of a king.
As a light snow did set on thee;
As a light snow did set on thee.
Morning did come with the promise of hope.
Church bells rang jubilant far and wide.
Robert and Cecily took to the Highlander road,
And set out on the Christmas tide.
Calling home to the Orkney Isles;
Calling home to the Orkney Isles.
Image: Pixabay