But i the end what’s writ is writ

Today is the last ‘Poet number 8 of 8’, in my recent Scottish-poetry theme, and it’s a verse (in Scots) from Sydney Goodsir Smith, as taken from the pictured 1955, limited-edition copy of his volume "Orpheus and Eurydice" - it’s a long dramatic poem, and the final Epilogue-section is reproduced below.

So the 8 poets, as variously quoted over recent days, have been:
·         Sorley MacLean
·         Norman MacCaig
·         Iain Crichton Smith
·         George Mackay Brown
·         Edwin Morgan
·         Hugh MacDiarmid
·         Robert Garioch
·         Sydney Goodsir Smith
 
And, as mentioned a few days ago, there is a 'loose connection' between the 8 poets, which I’ll reveal on Sunday … bit of a local walking-expedition planned for tomorrow (Saturday), which will definitely have to be my blip for that day!
 
Meantime, here’s a lesson for us all:


Orpheus and Eurydice
EPILOGUE

Orpheus his pouer wad set
Agin the bandet Fates,
Orpheus wad storm the mirk domain
And fetch his mistress hame again,
Back til the sunlicht in his pride,
Bearan his triumph and his bride.
 
Godlike discontent, great luve,
And pouer o sang did Pluto muve.
 
Man’s godhead is to warsle aye
But nane his weird can eer pit by ;
Man maun strauchle wi his fate
But i the end what’s writ is writ,
Man can win til the furdest yet
But i the end what’s writ is writ,
 
Man neer can learn the sempil leid :
Nane but the gods can conquer deid.
For he is born to spiel the hicht
That stends frae skreek-o-daw til nicht,
That breenges frae meridian

Man neer can learn the sempil leid :
Nane but the gods can conquer deid.
For he is born to spiel the hicht
That stends frae skreek-o-daw til nicht,
That breenges frae meridian

Doun til the pits o midnicht nune ---
And aye and aye ilkane bairntime
Will hae an Orpheus and his queyne ;
They are unmutabil, eterne,
As the white moth maun seek the sterne,
In them the gods is justified
For in them sheens their ain godhead :
Euridicie and Orpheus pruve
The micht o a weird, the licht o a luve.

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Sydney Goodsir Smith (1915-1975)
 
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