"I Like The Traveler's Tales"
(Traveler's Tale XXX)

I like the Traveler's Tales too.  - poetheart 09/07/01

Ah, looka tha'! Toledo steel!
An' would you le' me 'ave a feel?
Ah, yes, yer blade is keen indeed!
'Tis better so, when steel's in need.

An' ye are young. A sturdy lad-
But youth do flee, 'tis passin' sad…
But sit awhile, an' 'ave an ale…
While I dredge up a Traveler's Tale.

Ye ken the Traveler? Scotsman bold!
'e'd wield 'is blade for fun or gold-
Immortal, 'im; I've 'eard it said…
'e lives, though often left for dead.

'im, along wi' Dunc McLeod-
They've neither ever stooped ner bowed-
The glory road o' war an' fame..
A Scottish lilt were in 'is name.

Buchanan, 'im from Loch Lamond-
Me thinks 'is given name were John.
Among the larch, an' ash, an' spruce-
They backed the play o' Robert Bruce.

'E fought for France as I recall-
At Waterloo, I seen 'im fall…
Some say 'e sailed the Spanish Main-
An' wore the mail of Seville, Spain.

Some say 'e sailed wi' Francis Drake-
Some call 'im knave, some call 'im rake!
It matters not 'ow loud they rail!
I tend to like the Traveler's Tales.

by John R. Yaws

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