Allen Temple 'Red is the rose'

"Red is the Rose" is an old Irish ballad, closely linked to the Scottish ballad "Loch Lomond." It can be traced back to the 1700’s, but its origins lie in the mists of time. Its theme suggests ancient roots.

“Red is the rose” is an archtypal love song. It celebrates the natural world as a feminine other and speaks of a deep love of the land. It yearns for, and pledges loyalty to a sacred union with the earth.

I combined elements of "Loch Lomond" with elements of "Red is the Rose" and in keeping with the spirit of oral tradition adapted some of the words. To my mind this sets the story in Cumbria – my heart's true north and the land of my deepest allegiance.