some time back I read the book "The Black Cloud: Scottish Mountain Misadventures 1928 - 1966" One of the studies was that of Hugh A Barrie and Thomas Baird who tragically lost their lives in a terrible blizzard on 2nd January 1928. thereis a poem in the book, written by Barrie only a few months before his death which I found very moving.
When I am dead And this strange spark of life that in me lies Is fled to join the great white core of life That surely flames beyond eternities, And all I ever thought of as myself Is mouldering to dust and cold death ash, This pride of nerve and muscle - merest dross, This joy of brain and eye and touch but trash, Bury me not, I pray thee In the dark earth where there comes not any ray Of light or warmth or aught that make life dear; But take my whitened bones far, far away Out of the hum and turmoil of the town, Find me a wind - swept boulder for a bier And on it lay me down Where far beneath drops sheer the rocky ridge Down to the gloomy valley, and the streams Fall foaming white against black beetling rocks: Where the suns kindly radiance seldom gleams: Where some tall peak, defiant, steadfast mocks The passing gods: and all the ways of men Forgotten.
So I may know Even in that death which comes to everything The swiftly silent swish of hurrying snow; The lash of rain; the savage bellowing Of stags; the bitter keen - knife - edge embrace of the rushing wind: and the still tremulous dawn Will touch the eyeless sockets of my face; And I shall see the sunset and anon Shall know the velvet kindness of the night And see the stars. Hugh A Barrie
James, thanks for sharing that. It's a beautiful piece and one that is quoted on a memorial to Barrie near Blackpark in Rothiemurchus. Seeing it again brought back memories to me. I once read it at the funeral of a very dear friend – Harry McShane, who was once warden of the youth hostel in Crianlarich and who was an enthusiastic member of the Search and Rescue Dog Association.
I was in the local history department of Airdrie Library ysterday and came across a book from 1933 about local poets and their work. Looking down the list I was amazed to find Hiugh A Barrie listed. It seems he was a pupil for 5 years at Airdrie Academy, my stepdaughters school, and his mother was headmistress of the school in one of the local villages. A small world.
