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Poetry in Scots

Burns

Poetry in the Scots language began to be written down in the 14th century, beginning with John Barbour’s ‘The Brus’, and continuing through the makars of the 15th and 16thcenturies. The poetic revival of the 18th century led to the work of Robert Burns, and many others, and Scots poetry has continued to be composed in both general and regional forms down to the present day. Poetry probably remains the most common medium by which most Scottish people experience the fullness of Scots as a language and as a written, literary tradition.

Sally Evans, the Editor of Poetry Scotland has a life long interest in poetry in each of Scotland's indigenous languages. Sally joins us as editor of the poetry section of the SLC web site.

Don't forget to look back at the archvies of the last few months... Many interesting poets have appeared here recently!

Poem of the Month

The Hamecomin

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Norma-Ann Coleman has written a poem inspired by a painting - La Rue du Tramway by Paul Delvaux.  Entitled The Hamecomin, it was written after viewing the painting at the Dean Gallery in Edinburgh. Winning a special merit award in the creative writing competition run by National Galleries of Scotland, The English-Speaking Union and the Scottish Poetry Library, we reproduce the poem here.

THE HAMECOMIN


As Ah traipsed hameward frae the Dean
Ma heid wis birlin at aw Ah’d seen.
Twa vauntie hizzies, nae claes atween
Frae pow tae heel
Staunin by tramlines. Whit can it mean?
Jades o the deil!

Tae help me think, Ah haed a dram
An driftit intae a kin o dwam.
Ah’m sittin in an Em’brugh tram
In Princes Street.
Nae sign o roadworks or traffic jam
The joab’s complete.

It staps ootside the Gallery gates
A man gets oan, a meenister wi skates,
He doffs his hat, congratulates
The Titian pair,
Saved fur the nation frae furrin states
Wi days tae spare.

Next, three wee gracefu nakit lassies
O marble white that nane surpasses
Lauchin an wavin their travel passes
Step up on board.
The driver wipes the steam frae his glasses,
Fair flummoxed, floored.

Then thon poetic chiel appears
Still a braw carl despite his years.
“Wul ye come tae ma hamecomin do?” he speirs
Fu modestlie.
Oor bardie seems quite close tae tears
When we agree.

The tram sweeps aff oan its squinty lines
Straucht tae the Dean where thon vauntie quines
Serve usquebae an the finest wines
Fur Rab’s hamecomin.
Ah sing an dance till ma visage shines,
Ma noddle’s thrummin.

Anither reel’s aboot tae start
When Ah wake up wi an aching heart.
Afore Ah go Ah must impart
The moral o these tales.
Fowk that mix strong drink wi art
                Gang aff the rails!



Norma-Ann Coleman
2009

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