The Only True Instrument

Selected by: Connor D.

Introduction

The theme of my poems is the only true instrument. Also know as the bagpipes. I chose to do this topic because I love the bagpipes and to prove bagpipes can be used for everything.

From reading this you should expect to see a lot of bagpipe and highland themes. You will hopefully see how some people view bagpipes and what we think of them.

1. “The Bagpipe Who Didn’t Say No” relates to bagpipes because a bagpipe is the main character in that story.

2. “Poor Peter” is about a homeless bagpiper. That’s how it fits with the theme

3. “The Pipes at Lucknow” fits with the theme because it talks about the sounds of bagpipes and mentions piobreach (even though it is spelled wrong) which is what very old bagpipe music.

4. “Scotland the Brave” includes the theme because it is the lyrics of the most common bagpipe tune.

5. “The Bagpipes” includes the theme because it talks of a boy who is playing the bagpipes and how he flows from one type of music to the next

6. “Highland Pipes” has the theme because it desribes the sound of bagpipes and how they feel

7. “My Heart beat fast in the highlands” fits in with the theme because it speaks of a bagpipe

8. “The Piper” has the theme because it tells of the effect bagpipes have on a Scotsman

9. All of my poems include the theme because bagpipes are their topic

Table of Contents Title Slide #(s)• Introduction 2

• The Bagpipe Who Didn’t Say No 4-6• Poor Pete 7-8• The Pipes at Lucknow 9-13• Scotland the Brave 14-17• The Bagpipes 18-19• Highland Pipes 20-21• My Heart Beats Fast In the Highlands 22-23• The Pipers 24• Where are the Bagpipes 25• The pretty Bagpipes 26• Cornemuse 27• Bagpipes 28• Dream 29

The Bagpipe Who Didn’t Say No

– It was nine o'clock at midnight at a quarter after three When a turtle met a bagpipe on the shoreside by the sea, And the turtle said, "My dearie, May I sit with you? I'm weary." And the bagpipe didn't say no.Said the turtle to the bagpipe, "I have walked this lonely shore, I have talked to waves and pebbles--but I've never loved before. Will you marry me today, dear? Is it 'No' you're going to say dear?"But the bagpipe didn't say no.

– Said the turtle to his darling, "Please excuse me if I stare, But you have the plaidest skin, dear, And you have the strangest hair.If I begged you pretty please, love, Could I give you just one squeeze, love?" And the bagpipe didn't say no.

– Said the turtle to the bagpipe, "Ah, you love me. Then confess! Let me whisper in your dainty ear and hold you to my chest." And he cuddled her and teased her And so lovingly he squeezed her. And the bagpipe said, "Aaooga."

– Said the turtle to the bagpipe, "Did you honk or bray or neigh? For 'Aaooga' when your kissed is such a heartless thing to say. Is it that I have offended? Is it that our love is ended?" And the bagpipe didn't say no.

– Said the turtle to the bagpipe, "Shall i leave you, darling wife? Shall i waddle off to Woedom? Shall i crawl out of your life? Shall I move, depart and go, dear-- Oh, I beg you tell me 'No' dear!" But the bagpipe didn't say no.

– So the turtle crept off crying and he ne'er came back no more, And he left the bagpipe lying on that smooth and sandy shore. And some night when tide is low there, Just walk up and say, "Hello, there," And politely ask the bagpipe if this story's really so. I assure you, darling children, the bagpipe won't say "No.“

Silverstein, Shel “The Bagpipe Who Didn’t Say No” Where the Sidewalk Ends. Harper Collins Publishers, 1974.130

Poor Peter

All up and down the city;

I'd often meet him on my way,

And throw a coin for pity.

But all amid his sparkling tones

His ear was quick as any

To catch upon the cobble-stones

The jingle of my penny.And as upon a day that shone

He piped a merry measure:

"How well you play!" I chanced to say;

Poor Peter glowed with pleasure.

You'd think the words of praise I spoke

Were all the pay he needed;

The artist in the player woke,

The penny lay unheeded.Now Winter's here; the wind is shrill,

His coat is thin and tattered;Yet hark! he's playing trill on trill

As if his music mattered.

And somehow though the city looks

Soaked through and through with shadows,

He makes you think of singing brooks

And larks and sunny meadows.Poor chap! he often starves, they say;

Well, well, I can believe it;

For when you chuck a coin his way

He'll let some street-boy thieve it.

I fear he freezes in the night;

My praise I've long repented,

Yet look! his face is all alight . . .

Blind Peter seems contented.

Service, Robert. “Poor Peter.” “eliteskills.” http://www.eliteskills.com/c/10247 . April 26

The Pipes at Lucknow

Pipes of the misty moorlands, Voice of the glens and hills; The droning of the torrents, The treble of the rills! Not the braes of broom and heather, Nor the mountains dark with rain, Nor maiden bower, nor border tower, Have heard your sweetest strain!Dear to the Lowland reaper, And plaided mountaineer - To the cottage and the castle The Scottish pipes are dear - Sweet sounds the ancient pibroch O'er mountain, loch, and glade; But the sweetest of all music The pipes at Lucknow played.

The pipes at Lucknow played!Day by day the Indian tiger 

Louder yelled, and nearer crept; Round and round the jungle-serpent Near and nearer circles swept. "Pray to-day!" the soldier said; "To-morrow, death's between us And the wrong and shame we dread,"

Oh, they listened, looked, and waited, Till their hope became despair; And the sobs of low bewailing Filled the pauses of their prayer. Then up spake a Scottish maiden, With her ear unto the ground: "Dinna ye hear it?-dinna ye hear it" The pipes o'Havelock sound!"

Hushed the wounded man his groaning; Hushed the wife her little ones; Alone they heard the drum-roll And the roar of Sepoy guns, But to sounds of home and childhood The Highland ear was true - As her mother's cradle crooning The mountain pipes she knew.

Like the march of soundless music Through the vision of the seer, More of feeling than of hearing, Of the heart than of the ear, She knew the droning pibroch, She knew the Campbell's call: "Hark! Hear ye no' MacGregor's - The grandest of o' them all!"

Oh, they listened, dumb and breathless, And they caught the sound at last; Faint and far beyond the Goomtee Rose and fell the piper's blast! Then a burst of wild thanksgiving Mingled woman's voice and man's; "God be praised!-the march of Havelock! The piping of the clans!"

Louder, nearer, fierce as vengeance, Sharp and shrill as swords at strife, Came the wild MacGregor's clan-call, Stinging all the air to life. But when the far-off dust-cloud To plaided legions grew, Full tenderly and blithesomely The pipes of rescue blew!

Round the silver domes of Lucknow, Moslem mosque and Pagan shrine, Breathed the air to Britons dearest, The air of "Auld Lang Syne." O'er the cruel roll of war-drums Rose that sweet and homelike strain; And the tartan clove the turban, As the Goomtee cleaves the plain.

Dear to the corn-land reaper And plaided mountaineer - To the cottage and the castle The piper's song is dear. Sweet sounds the Gaelic pibroch O'er mountain, glen, and glade; But the sweetest of all music 

Whittier, John “The Pipes at Lucknow.” “rampantscotland.” http://www.rampantscotland.com/poetry/blpoems_lucknow.htm . April 26

Scotland The BraveHark when the night is falling

Hear! Hear the pipes are calling,Loudly and proudly calling,Down thro' the glen.There where the hills are sleeping,Now feel the blood a-leaping,High as the spirits of the old Highland men.

Towering in gallant fame,Scotland my mountain hame,High may your proud standards gloriously wave,Land of my high endeavour,Land of the shining river,Land of my heart for ever,Scotland the brave.

High in the misty Highlands,Out by the purple islands,Brave are the hearts that beatBeneath Scottish skies.Wild are the winds to meet you,Staunch are the friends that greet you,Kind as the love that shines from fair maiden's eyes.

Towering in gallant fame,Scotland my mountain hame,High may your proud standards gloriously wave,Land of my high endeavour,Land of the shining river,Land of my heart for ever,Scotland the brave.

Far off in sunlit places,Sad are the Scottish faces,Yearning to feel the kissOf sweet Scottish rain.Where tropic skies are beaming,Love sets the heart a-dreaming,Longing and dreaming for the homeland again.

Towering in gallant fame,Scotland my mountain hame,High may your proud standards gloriously wave,Land of my high endeavour,Land of the shining river,Land of my heart for ever,Scotland the brave.

This is a bagpipe tune that is very old. There is no recorded author. “hymns.” http://www.hymns.me.uk/scotland-the-brave-lyrics.htm . April 26

THE BAGPIPES• Frank took out his bagpipes, one bright and sunny day, 

and sauntering up the braeside, he began to play. He began to play a lament, so teary and so sad, it took him back to his boyhood days, when he was but a lad.

• But suddenly the wind changed, and it blew right up his kilt, it suddenly made him change his tune, into a merry lilt. The heather and thistles, joined in this merry dance and Frank blew so hard, they could hear him over in France.

• The Frenchies sat a-listening, while they sat just sipping wine, one lady was heard to say, "That music is divine." So should you go a-wandering, or walk down Princes Street. don't be too surprised, if a Frenchman you should meet.

• For they too love pipe music, and will say with great defiance, that is just another thing, that forged the 'Old Alliance'. But some of them will query, as they tap upon their hat "How do you tune up all those pipes? Should they be sharp or flat?"

• The piper can play six eight time, standing by the byre or he can play four four, and of this you'll never tire. Pipes and drums you will hear, when in Scotland you arrive. and everyone will welcome you, and for your comfort strive.

• Watch the boats out on the blue, as out to Skye they toss, or climb a brae in the breeze so fresh, and look for a caber to toss There's heather too and thistles tall, some they are quiet pretty. Then stroll down to the pub at night, for conversation witty.

• So listen to the Pipers, as they play down by the burn, you'll leave this place with sadness, vowing to return. I once lived in Scotland, when I was oh so spry, and some sound advice - "Jist see the Highlands, afore ye die!"

Barker, Tom. “THE BAGPIPES.” “poetryofscotland.” http://www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/Other/thebagpipes.php. April 27

Highland Pipes

• Kinetic vibes blown by all lips, they sing your tears, a thousand hopes - sorrow and joy, Mother Scotland. They're echoing deep in my soul.

• Phosphorous vibes high in our nights, each note finds grip on your wild dress - like silver clefs in winter sky. I see them shine on mauve heather - in every glen.

• Forever vibes sticking to time, like sellotape keeps together past and present, our own future.

• To each heartbeat, Mother Scotland, I imagine a lone piper - thistle in hand, reaching your eyes; his every tune played on white sand... to hearts so pure, free, and so wise.

Hall, Nat. “Highland Pipes,” “poetryofscotland.” http://www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/Other/highlandpipes.php . April 27

My Heart Beats Fast In The Highlands • I'll give my soul 

to Burns tonight; whisky will flow down in glasses(!) like river Coe through wild heather - share haggis with lads and lasses; a verse or two in candle light.

• My heart beats fast in the Highlands, I hear Robbie and a bagpipe... all that freedom in blue and white, we'll dress our words in old tartans.

• Poetry flows in us tonight; Scotworld will dance from dusk till dawn... around fires, laughs and tables - a fling of life all through the night.

Hall, Nat. “My Heart Beats Fast In Yhe Highlands.” “poetryofscotland.” http://www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/Other/myheartbeatsfast.php . April 27

Milligand, James. “THE PIPERS.” “poetryofscotland.” http://www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/Other/thepipers.php . April 27

Where are the Bagpipes

Free write

Bagpipes, Bagpipes are where?

Bagpipes, Bagpipes are here

Bagpipes, Bagpipes are up there

Bagpipes, Bagpipes are down there

Bagpipes, Bagpipes are everywhere

Bagpipes, Bagpipes are evrywhere

And that includes in your hair

By: Connor Dwyer

The Pretty Bagpipes

Haiku

The pretty bagpipes

Made a pretty sound

In a Scottish field

By: Connor Dwyer

Cornemuse

Cinquain

Bagpipes

They’re sounding loud

And play amazingly

They make me feel like a god

cornemuse

By: Connor Dwyer

Bagpipes

Acrostic

Because they’reAwesome and haveGood reputationPipes are the sound of the pastIn the present they are the best musicPipes are the instrument of the futureEveryone should play them becauseSuperty duperty amazingly wonderfully magnificent

By: Connor Dwyer

Dream

Dream poetry

Bagpipes dream of playing music. It doesn’t matter when or where as long as they play loud and proud.

By: Connor Dwyer

Work cited

• Highland Pipes = Hall, Nat. “Highland Pipes,” “poetryofscotland.” http://www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/Other/highlandpipes.php . April 27

• My Heart Beats Fast In the Highlands=Hall, Nat. “My Heart Beats Fast In Yhe Highlands.” “poetryofscotland.” http://www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/Other/myheartbeatsfast.php . April 27

• Poor Pete=Service, Robert. “Poor Peter.” “eliteskills.” http://www.eliteskills.com/c/10247 . April 26

• Scotland the Brave=This is a bagpipe tune that is very old. There is no recorded author. “hymns.” http://www.hymns.me.uk/scotland-the-brave-lyrics.htm . April 26

• The Bagpipes= Barker, Tom. “THE BAGPIPES.” “poetryofscotland.” http://www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/Other/thebagpipes.php. April 27

• The Bagpipes Who Didn’t Say No=Silverstein, Shel “The Bagpipe Who Didn’t Say No” Where the Sidewalk Ends. Harper Collins Publishers, 1974.130

• The Pipers=Milligand, James. “THE PIPERS.” “poetryofscotland.” http://www.poetryofscotland.co.uk/Other/thepipers.php . April 27

• The Pipes at Lucknow=Whittier, John “The Pipes at Lucknow.” “rampantscotland.” http://www.rampantscotland.com/poetry/blpoems_lucknow.htm . April 26

I searched the Internet from end to end to find these poems. I hope you enjoy them.