A revered master, A Beloved Healer, A Perfect Friend ...

Catching sight of the memorial to Sir Lauder Brunton, I thought of the portraits I'd seen in the halls of the Royal College of Surgeons, the frock coats, the beards, the dundreary whiskers, the dark cravats -

But there was no portrait here, no sombre face for me to study, no hooded gaze meeting mine - 

There were words instead for me to read - 

A revered master, a beloved healer, a perfect friend -

Later, back amongst my books, I'd look up the learned details of the life - 

For now, though, that last line was enough - 

Thursday 2 July 2015

Bowden Kirk 

The Scottish Borders