The Ain that Got Awa

For the members of the Charles Murray Memorial Trust

Fin fishy tales wir bandied, he wis keepit in his neuk
For feint the fish he'd guddled, or inveiglet on his hyeuk.
Bit fowk got a stammygaster, fin the lad began tae craw
For they'd niver heard the marra, o the ain that got awa.

The tale o this monstrosity held aabody enthralled
Its mou wis that enormous twid hae swallowed Invercauld,
An spikkin o its pectorals — he wisna gaun tae blaw —
They'd hae sheiled the Lecht, nae bother, o a hunnerwecht o' sna!

Its scales wis hard an horny, like a muckle pleuin share.
Fin it loupit up, the Dee drap't doon, a fifty fit an mair
An its een, twa flashin heidlichts, wid hae petrifeed a craw!
Man — there wisnae ony haudin it — the ain that got awa.

I creepit doon tae spy it, far it lay aneth the puil.
It widna filled a hanky, let alone a fishin reel,
Bit I'll keep his secret siccar, tho his fabled fish is sma
For we've as a tale tae tell, aboot the ain that got awa!

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