But gin the auld fowks’ tales are richt
An’ ghaists come hame on Hallow nicht,
O freend o’ freends! what wad I gie
To feel ye rax yer hand to me
Atween the dark an’ caun’le-licht?

—Violet Jacob, “Hallowe’en”
first published in COUNTRY LIFE, 1920

Jacob’s only son, Harry, was killed at the Somme in 1916

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Halloween #warpoem #warpoetry #WW1

Listen to Sheena Wellington & Karine Polwart sing Violet Jacob’s poignant poem “Hallowe’en” to Jim Reid’s setting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FisdvJmgVNY

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #song #Halloween #warpoem #warpoetry #ww1

Halloween ~ Sheena Wellington and Karine Polwart

YouTube