The Spirit of Drumossie Moor

By Marie Annand

The following poem Culloden was written by the submitter, Marie Annand:

The Keppoch Inn burst at the seams, all gathered rich and poor
To honour clansmen slain that day upon Culloden Moor
Two hundred years or more had passed, but some pain never leaves
And so they stood and raised a toast upon the battle’s eve
A stranger drank beside the fire 'til he could drink no more
Then weaved his way across the bar and stumbled to the door
He staggered out across the moor to pray for all the dead
Then leant against the Fraser’s stone, their grave became his bed.

The whisky ran high in his veins, he soon fell fast asleep
But woke up in the dead of night a warrior at his feet
His ghostly glow lit up the dark, he wore a tartan plaid
Which wrapped around his bony frame, his young face tired and sad
His eyes locked with the stranger’s and burned into his soul
"Save me friend" wailed from his lips "for I can take no more"
For ever we must fight this fight forever we are damned
To fall again in blood and gore upon this barren land’.
He stretched his ghostly skinny arm, his eyes rolled in despair
The stranger shrank back trembling in the cold and silent air
And as he glanced around him from out the mist they came

Two thousand men or more amassed to battle in the rain
Their plaids were wrapped around them, their faces set like stone
The ghostly army silent stood, their fate already known
The stranger lurching forward, peered through the misty haze
Searching for his warrior who’d begged that he be saved
All at once the deafening guns began relentless fire

The clansmen fell like ragged dolls, 'twas time again to die
Those standing charged, their high shrill cry went piercing through his ears
And as the armies clashed again his eyes were filled with tears
The hellish screams of dying souls, the damned amongst the dead
Brought the stranger to his knees, his hands around his head
But as he cowered on the earth a voice rang through his fear
"Save me I can take no more, I must be gone from here"

And so he stumbled to his feet and ran into the throng
Swords beat him down from every side but courage spurred him on
And every blow he felt although it did not break his skin
And every cry attacked his ears, the hellish ghastly din
Then peering through the battle haze he spied his injured friend
Eyes locked as one to save his soul before he met his end
Stretching out, the stranger leapt and grasped the warrior’s hand
A dagger plunged, his warrior fell upon the barren land

The stranger sat and looked around but he was at a loss
For in his shaking grasping hand there sat a pewter cross
No armies fought upon the moor his eyes searched in a daze
And fell upon a shimmering light amongst the ghostly haze
Then as that light moved closer his eyes lit up with pride
For that light was his warrior who walked up to his side
"I’ll tak yer hand" the spirit said "You saved my soul today"
Hand shook hand, the warrior smiled, "Now I’ll be on my way"

The stranger clutched the pewter cross and waved a last farewell.
Then strode across Culloden Moor and headed down the hill
At battle’s eve there stands a man beside the Fraser’s stone
His glass raised to an absent friend, whose soul has found its home.

Memorial to the Highlanders who fell at the Battle of Culloden, Culloden Moor

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Share your stories of the history of the Highlands and Islands

Stories are at the heart of what we do as a project and we are always looking to learn more about what the Highlands and Islands means to people who live, work, and visit here.

The Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745, highly romanticised in some literature and media, were a dark turning point in history marked by blood and tragedy. The aftermath of which changed the landscape and community infrastructure, and the lives of people in the Highlands forever. This aftermath is still felt today in contemporary society. Are there any people from this time period, an distant relative or another figure, that you feel represent the 'Spirit of the Highlands and Islands' for you? Tell us below, we can't wait to hear from you!

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