Kalahari, mission with sand, ostriches and spearheads.



Gang awa frae tha Glen
Tae a fearsome place;
Where tha darkened souls
Hae na gleemps o’grace.
Where tha work must fit
A new tongue and race.
Gang awa frae tha Glen for a wheel.
“Tis for certs He has ca’d
Ye, and ye must roon;
Tae a land o’ plagues
And o’ blastin’ sun,
Where tha rule o’ richt
Hae just sceerce begun.
Gang awa frae tha Glen, Robbie, chile.
There be muckle tae ken
O’ tha people’s need;
O’ tha crops that thrive,
O’ tha life they lead;
O’ tha daily thirst;
O’ their warfare, greed.
Gang awa frae tha Glen, and be wise.
Tho’ tha ship be worsted,
Tho’ tha trail be long,
Tho’ tha beasts be awful,
Ye’ll arrive anon;
And commence tae cant
Tha sweet Gospel song.
Gang awa frae tha Glen, in His love.
And ye’ll spot tha dee
When it starts tae click.
As they bring their young,
And they bring their sick;
For o’ Jesus’ kind
They ken nae sic lik..
Gang awa frae tha Glen, tae be used.
An’ it’s nae sa muckle
That their needs ye know,
Whuch’ll fan tha flame,
Cause your strenth tae grow;
But tha confeedence
“Tis your Laird says, “Go!”
Gang awa frae tha Glen, ‘til you’re gone.


(Robert Moffat, Pioneer Missionary to South-west Africa)
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Written on October 14, 2011

Submitted by dougb.21370 on January 27, 2023

Modified on April 18, 2023

1:15 min read
48

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABXBCBXXAXDCDEAFXXXFXXGHAXGXEIXIXGXHJXJBJX X
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,199
Words 251
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 42, 1

Doug Blair

Doug was once a lawyer. Frustrated. Went broke 1987. Turned to manufacturing. People talked straight. Worked hard. Listened when appropriate. Lead Hand Shipper and Workplace Safety. Married to Hilary 1974. Two kids Lauren and Jordan. Poet. Photographer. Hiker-photographer. Harmonica busker. http://puffnchord7.blogspot.com/ more…

All Doug Blair poems | Doug Blair Books

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1 Comment
  • laskuce
    This poem has rhythm and repetition. It tells a story of setting out on a difficult mission in a foreign land. There are obstacles and you can sense an earned success and a commitment from the writer. This sensibility is aided by the old language used. I appreciate that the more I read the poem, the more I like it. 
    LikeReply1 year ago

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