Author's Note: This poem follows a piper during the Great War writing his sweetheart a final letter before going over the top. The fate of this piper remains unknown because I do not specify. There are many references to English and Scottish folk songs, as well as some homage to many modern songs which cover the topic of the Great War. But enough talk, here it is.

(Scottish Version)

'ear mah love,

I'm sorry if ah don't mak' it back.
Among th' fields o' Flanders, where bodies lay slack 'n' mangled- wha's young men died,
strangled by horrific gas. If mah fate is sealed, ken that ah will gladly die fur king, god, 'n' country.
As mah body joins wi' th' sod underneath oor feet, ah will rest peacefully as th' new generation reap th' fresh harvest- 'n' ah will join th' lassies fae hell.

Wearing mah kilt 'n' playing mah pipes,
ah will surely stand against th' onslaught o' german guns-
by th' sunset, where th' warfighting is th' thick'st
as th' nicht is falling.
Ah hear it now, th' pipes are cawin-
loudly 'n' proudly cawin thro' th' homeland's glen.
Thare, when ye hear th' gunfire screaming'-
cop yer blood leapin',
tae catch up wi' th' spirits o' th' auld hielan men.
Ah will be aw together again
wi' th' lassies fae hell.

Fear naught,
fur ah wull sing fur ye-
if ye cry,
just know that mah soul wull comfort ye.
'Am sure ye kin fin' a better jimmy than ah-
fur there ar' many others,
but ah will grieve if ye die lonely.
Rememb'r that in th' hielands somewhere, ah will play in th' myriads o' pipe bands-with th' lassies fae hell.

I see mahsell standing,
as th' bodies o' buddies lay around me-
dying.
Some young, some auld.
Bit a' ur scots lik' me,
proud 'n' bold.
In th' grand scheme o' hings,
ah hae yit tae learn how come we rammy.
Is it tae defend oor homes?
or a cock measuring contest atween countries tae prove thair micht? yit, ah ask na questions-
fur mah bagpipe skirls fur th' lassies fae hell.

King George commanded, 'n' we obeyed-
we marched o'er th' hills 'n' far away.
But behind this hills was horror, th' trenches lacked color,
wis drab 'n' had a terrible odor.
I don't want tae tell ye everything ah hud saw
but many o' us ur destined tae fall.
As some were torn fae gunfire, artillery-
While we fought pneumonia 'n' hypothermia.
Ah simply lang tae go back to Caledonia,
but ah suppose ah mist rammy fur th' lassies fae hell.

Hear them whisper,
voices fae th' other side-
by death's river
they wull ne'er lea oor hearts or fade away.
Although their flesh kin decay.
We wull forever mind their memory.
And ah hope that time under th' November fall, where we wid reek th' sweetness o' th' air.
Such dreams kin be sae sweet, but I'm glad that 'twas reality.
So mind, when I'm counted as a fatality,
I'm wi' th' lassies fae hell.

I don't think aboot th' blood, th' gore- ah juist lassy ye, mair 'n' mair. Ah yearn fur yer sweet embrace,
juist knowing ye wur mines is god's grace itself.
Yer sweet scent intoxicates me more than any scotch would,
and that shite cuid mak' wood burn.
Don't ye mourn fur me, rejoice that ah hae set ye free.
You mak' me swoon, mah hert aye belonged tae you-
but don't greet when ah ascend distances farther than th' moon,
It's happenin' now- Ah must depart, we're goin' o'er th' top
I'm joining th' lassies fae hell.

(English Version)

Dear My Love,

I'm sorry if I don't make it back.
Among the fields of Flanders,
where bodies lay slack and mangled- whose young men died,
strangled by horrific gas.
If my fate is sealed,
know that I will gladly pass away for King, God, and Country.
As my body joins with the sod underneath our feet,
I will rest peacefully as the new generation reap the new harvest-
and I will join the Ladies From Hell.

Wearing my kilt and playing my pipes,
I will gladly stand against the onslaught of German guns-
By the sunset,
where the warfighting as the night is falling.
I hear it now, the pipes are calling-
loudly and proudly calling through the homeland's glen.
There, when you hear the gunfire screaming'- feel your blood leapin',
To meet the spirits of the old Highland men.
I will be united again with the Ladies From Hell.

Fear not,
for I will sing for you-
If you cry,
just know that my soul will comfort you. I know you can find a better man than I- for there are many others,
but I will weep if you die lonely.
Just know that in the highlands somewhere,
I will play in the myriads of pipe bands-with the Ladies From Hell.

I see myself standing,
as the bodies of buddies lay around me-
dying.
Some young, some old.
But all are Scottish like me, proud and bold.
In the grand scheme of things, I have yet to learn why we fight.
Is it to defend our homes?
Or a cock measuring contest between countries to prove their might?
Yet, I ask no questions-
for my bagpipe skirls for the Ladies From Hell.

King George commanded, and we obeyed-
We marched over the hills and far away.
But behind this hills was horror,
The trenches lacked color,
was drab and had a terrible odor.
I don't want to tell you everything I had saw
but many of us are destined to fall.
As some were torn from gunfire, artillery- we fought pneumonia and hypothermia.
I simply long to go back to great Caledonia,
but I suppose I must fight for the Ladies From Hell.

Hear them whisper,
voices from the other side-
by death's river
They will never leave our hearts or fade away.
Although their flesh may decay.
We will forever remember their memory.
And I hope that time under the November fall, where we would smell the sweetness of the air.
Such dreams can be so rare,
but I'm glad that it was the reality.
So remember, when I'm counted as a fatality,
I'm with the Ladies From Hell.

I don't think about the blood,
the gore-
I just miss you,
more and more.
I yearn for your sweet embrace,
just knowing you were mine is God's grace itself.
Your sweet scent intoxicates me more than any scotch would,
and that shite could make bloody wood burn.
Don't you mourn for me, rejoice that I have set you free.
You make me swoon,
my heart always belonged to you-
but don't cry when I ascend distances farther than the moon.
It's happening now, I must depart- we're going over the top.
This is it, I'm joining the Ladies From Hell.