Tamsin's Poem
Words by Tamsin of the Gypsies, from her poem "Circle of Sins"
The [Am] gates stand open, [C] banners still.
The [Am] bright sun slowly [C] swings around
An [Am] empty courtyard. [G] Goblets spill
The [E] red, red wine across the ground
Be-[Am]-side a swiftly [C] toppled chair.
And [Am] in the dusty [C] stillness there
The [Am] crowded echoes [G] softly die
And [E] darkness claims the lonely sky
CHORUS:
U-[Dm]-pon a distant, [Am]wasted land
My [Dm] kinsmen died for [Am] me
Drink [Dm] up the wine, here [Am] brothers all;
Drink [Dm] up, their many [Am] names recall;
Drink [Dm] deep, as one by [F] one they fall
To [E] keep Erdreja free.
Beyond the tavern, tables bare;
I trace the fading battle call,
Still haunting trampled footsteps where
They lead away towards the hall,
And through the star-lit cavern door
Into the Void Gate's gaping maw.
They went with cheeks flushed, courage high
Eyes closed, I watch them pass me by
CHORUS
No heroes less the living, for
Each soldier gambled everything.
But to the honoured dead we pour
The blood-red wine and praises sing,
That, in some foreign field, they hear
Our distant voices calling clear
To bring their ragged patterns home
And raise them up on glory's throne.
CHORUS
No heroes less the living, for
Each soldier gambled everything.
But to the honoured dead we pour
The blood-red wine and praises sing,
That, in some foreign field, they hear
Our distant voices calling clear
To bring their ragged patterns home
And raise them up on glory's throne.
CHORUS
All Works are © Original Author
(OC Author - Alice Macklin, music by Stephen McGreal)