Dark Waters, Hidden Treasures – Herewulf’s Lay

Digging Oot Pukels

O come ye here the fight to shun – or herd the sheep wi me, man ?

Or were ye at the Pukel-Nest, and did the battle see, man ?

I saw the battle sair and cheugh, and reekin red ran many a chiel,

My heart for fear gea sugh for sugh, to see the blades and feel the thuds that slew the Pukel Queen, man.

They pukel lads in black agads, to meet us were nay slow, man.

But staunch Osric led on oor files, doon tunnels half a mile man,

As battle joined, seax fell and many a yell did ring aboot my ears, man

They rushed and pushed and blood out-gushed, and Littleman he fell doon, man.

Wi wee lights held, as darkness fell, on we dashed, and hewed and smashed,

and Battle-Quines they clashed who stove in heads and tails, man.

In the final cave, wi a pool for a grave, the Pukel-Queen – a maiden fair did seem, man

For she took oor will, til one man hacked the ither, man.

But Battle-Quines, wi all their wiles, they had the nerve of all, man.

And unamazed, they struck oor foe, til witch-queen died awa, man.