Lovecraft on the vexed question of Scottish independence, on which the Scots vote next week. <\/p>\n
“North and South Britons” was published under the pen name “Alexander Ferguson Blair” in The Tryout<\/em>, May 1919. Presumably his poem was written in response to the increasing likelihood of Irish independence following the end of the First World War, and a consequent fear that the Scots would also ask for independence.<\/p>\n North and South Britons<\/strong><\/p>\n Man is so much with prejudice imbu\u2019d, Lovecraft on the vexed question of Scottish independence, on which the Scots vote next week. “North and South Britons” was …<\/p>\n
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\nThat love and hate arise from latitude;
\nWhat else can cause such petty strife to breed
\nAlong the Cheviots and flowing Tweed?
\nNo sober sense could disagreement bring
\n\u2018Twixt Britons with one country and one King.
\nBeyond the seas, the Colonies are built
\nAlike by men of breeches and of kilt;
\nOn fields of war, with blood of heroes dy\u2019d,
\nStand sturdy Scots and Saxons side by side:
\nIn harmony the martial music comes
\nFrom Scottish bagpipes and from English drums;
\nAmid such scenes none stops to boast his birth
\nAs being north or south of Solway Firth;
\nThere Fife and Devon, Ayr and Dorset blend,
\nAnd all for one united land contend.
\nHow strange that men, so brotherly abroad,
\nCannot be brothers on their native sod!
\nWould that each Scot and Saxon might be free
\nFrom local feuds, and childish jealousy.
\nWho shall the one above the other place,
\nWhen both are mix\u2019d in one imperial race?
\nRule on, belov\u2019d Britannia, rule the waves—
\nNo Britons, North or South, shall e\u2019er be slaves!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"