Yesterday one of our recipes Cullin Skink made it all the way to Australia thanks to a primary school friend Gordon Stewart who in turn linked it to a secondary school friend who now lives in New Zealand Steven Willis. With this in mind I have chosen a poem by T Pringle written early in the 19th century. The centuries move on and Scottish emigration around the world continues, so this poem is for all who choose to make their homes in Countries near and far.

The Scottish Exile’s Farewell

Our native Land-our native Vale-
A long and last adieu!
Farewell to bonny Lynden-dale,
And Cheviot-mountains blue!

Farewell, ye hills of glorious deeds,
And streams renowned in song!
Farewell, ye blithesome braes and meads
Our hearts have loved so long!

Farewell, ye broomy elfin knowes,
Where thyme and harebells grow!
Farewell, ye hoary haunted howes,
O’erhung with birk and sloe!

The battle-mound, the Border-tower,
That Scotia’s annals tell;
The martyr’s grave, the lover’s bower-
To each-to all-farewell!

Home of our hearts! our fathers’ home!
Land of the brave and free!
The sail is flashing through the foam
That bears us far from thee.

We seek a wild and distant shore,
Beyond the Atlantic main;
We leave thee to return no more,
Nor view thy cliffs again.

But may dishonour blight our fame,
And quench our household fires,
When we, or ours, forget thy name,
Green Island of our Sires!

Our native Land -our native Vale-
A long, a last adieu!
Farewell to bonny Lynden-dale,
And Scotland’s mountains blue!

by T Pringle.