Articles categorised as Regional

Nort Atlantik Drift - photography and poems from Shetland

Well known Shetland writer Alan Jamieson's latest collection of poems was launched in December 2007. In Nort Altalntik Drift, from Luath Press, Jamieson mixes mythology, autobiography and history...

The Bonnie Lass o Fyvie

A favourite from the North East, this is another of those love songs with a tragic ending. Performed by the Joe Gordon Folk Four, this video is from the old BBC TV programme, The White Heather Club.

Shetland Cultural Conference

The Elphinstone Institute (University of Aberdeen), in conjunction with the Millennium Institute’s Centre for Nordic Studies (University of the Highlands and Islands) and Shetland Museum and...

Robert Burns Anniversary Conference

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow is hosting a three-day conference to celebrate the many aspects of the...

Buiks, fitbaw an ithir blethers

Hello aw, I howp ye hae aw been weil this week past. Gin ye byde in Edinburgh, ye cuid hae duin waur this week nor poppin intae St. Andrew's an St. George's Kirk on George Street tae tak a keik...

Names for the Scots Language

The Scots language has been known by several alternative names during its history. The variety of names reflects both changing fashions, and local dialect loyalties. For the unwary, such a variety...

Scots Leid Forum

Heya aw, howo ye'r aw daein weil. I hae faimily comin up frae Kendal the day, sae the hous is aw in an affy fankle an I ainlie hae time for a wee blog the nou. The heidmaist thing I'm...

Scots Theatre

Hello aw, howp ye's daein weil. I stairtit readin David Lindsay's "Thrie Estatis" the ithir day, certaint ane tae be recommendit tae aw fowk (that's not fashed by sweiry wurds an laich...

YA DANCER

YA DANCER! Ther's monie wurds in Scots that we aw luve, that's mair expressive (tae us) nor their Inglis equeivalents - dreich, snell, braw, crabbit; awbodie's got their favourites, an ther's...

A hantle new Edinburgh wurds?

This is sumthing I hae been ettlin tae pit up for wee while, but jist no got roun tae. It's jist a wee hanlte o wurds that I hear yung Edinburgh fowk no sae deifferent frae amsel uisin, but I...

Thochts

Hello aw, howp ye haed a guid Christmas an Hogmanay an ye'r aw daein weil i the wunter cauld. I haed a wee bit cauld masel, but I'm ower it the nou. It wis guid seein faimily an there wis guid...

MSP Spreads Scots from Aberdeen to Argentina!

Dr Bill Wilson, SNP MSP for the West of Scotland, shared his love of the Scots language with primary school pupils aboard The Reading Bus on Friday 16th January. Dr. Wilson read two Scots poems...

Snaw or lectures?

Snaw or lectures. snaw or lectures? Hehehe, I turn intae sic a bairn whan it snaws... Seein the wurd o the week is "thrang" - the Gaelic for "busy" is "trang" - "Tha mi ag obair gu trang" (I'm...

New fundin, internet, Dictionars

Weil, first o aw, I maun say weil duin tae the fowk at the SLC an the Dictionars that haes at lang an last got the govrenment tae fund thaim direckly raither nor through the Airts Council. Gin ye...

The Main Dialects of Scots

Scots is the collective name for Scottish dialects known also as ‘Doric’, ‘Lallans’ and ‘Scotch’ or by more local names such as ‘Buchan’, ‘Dundonian’, ‘Glesca’ or ‘Shetland’. Taken altogether,...

Scunnered...

Been a wee while syne I wis last able tae blog on here (hou maun Uni wark get i the wey o whit I'm wantin tae dae?), but a story I saw a week or sae back fair got me thrawn an I thocht I'd let ye...

Scots an Dutch

Weil, I wis fair scunnered efter watchin the fitba on Setterday nicht. Scotland wis outclassed, nae quaystion. Whan ye'r up agin a side that can pit players like Snijder on the bench ye ken...

Easter

Hey aw, wissin a guid Easter tae aw o ye. It's guid tae see the new front page o the site takkin shape, I maun say it luiks braw, daes it no? Guid tae see the YouTube channel an picturs...

Parochial smarochial...

I jalouse like maist o ye I wis mair nor a wee bittie bemused by David Starkey's comments on the telly a couple o days syne. Offendit? Na, no ralley, jist a bit dumfounerit. Mainly I wis...

New book on Cromarty Scots

Am Baile – the cultural and historical website of Highland Council – has produced a beautiful little book about the Scots dialect of the fishing community of Cromarty. The book is divided into...

Flittin, Nae Mince etc.

Weil, I'm back on bloggin efter a wee whilie awa. Jist flittit twa week syne, sae aye trying tae redd out a nummer o fankles that's no richt just yet. It's guid tae see thon veidio "Nae...

Nps n tatties

Ok, back again - been a while syne I wis at this... Been that thrang wi this an that, ne'er got time tae sit doun tae ma blog. First, I'd like tae gree wi Bill Wilson an wir verra ain Iain...

Neologisms

...weil, I haed tae blog on it suiner or later, jist be gled it's no spellin... Ane o first things a bodie rins up agin in Scots writin is the nummer o wurds ye see that dinna resemble the...

A Sober Student Looks at MacDiarmid

Weil, first aff I maun say "weil duin" tae Billy Kay on gettin his honorary degree frae the University of the West of Scotland (read about it i the news section o the site). He ralley deserrs...

Moray author launches census petition

A Moray author is campaigning for the Scots language to be given equal status with Gaelic by having it included in the 2011 national census, reports the Press and Journal. Marguerite...

Falkirk Pupils learn about Scots

A Falkirk primary school is taking a new approach to the use of Scots in the classroom, The Falkirk Herald reports. Pupils at Nethermains Primary have been working with well-known Scots writer...

Jist Yarnin - writing from Margaret Tong

Margaret Tong's articles from her "Jist Yarnin" series were written for the Buckie & District Fishing Heritage Centre's quarterly newslatter. We owe thanks, firstly to Margaret for allowing us to...

The Cyard's Kist

'There's nae guid comes A's wrack, fin the Cyards are here Wi a birn o bairns at their back An their hawkin gear.'Bit the lassie didna listShe wis mad tae lift the sneck On the cyard's kist.There...

Hedgehogs

A bourich o preens That's quick tae fleg; Twa bitticks o' een An a wee, wee neb;Come scooshlin oot, wi the starry mune Fin whins are dark an the walks are teem.Far they come frae, naebody kens,...

The Cyard's Coortin'

He hawked a puckle pots an' pans,Till — scunnered o' the wark,He timmered up the kindlin'Till the swat ran doon his sarkSyne he wat his whussle freelyFrae a coggie keepit handyAn' thochties turned...

Images

If I gaed blin the mornThere's sichts, like draps o dew, Wid bricht the dark...Wippet an warm, safe within, An' niver tyned.I can mak Winter, Spring;Fin I've a mind.Lyin, stibble-chaffed, i' the...

Lost Youth

As I gaed ower the stormy muir The sky was riven like the sea;The muir-fowl fled the onding's rage, Aroon the sleet fell cruelly.'Whaur are ye gaun on sic a nicht?'The reeshlin bracken seemed tae...

The Tryst

Twa lovers trysted bi the birk,The lass had munelicht in her een, Bit creepin saftly throw the mirk The waukrife lad had nane.Warm was his kiss an' strang his airm, The blin-sicht mowdie turned...

A Guid New Year

Fin e're the auld year hirples oot In ilka hame the toast is raised An yet, ahin the Season's cheer Hidden awa, the hint o' fearFor the Past is safe ahin us:A barn, wi the hairst stap-fu;Fit lies...

Homecoming

The salmon swims tae the lochan's briest, The bees win hinney frae the muir, Sae 'tis wi me a tug at the hairtAn it's sair, man, sair...Tae stan at the mou o' the quate hoose Whaur ilka room is...

Glen Muick

The skies drift doon — a dreepin' blur That maks o' Ben an' brae a shroud As if grown weary o' the lan' The mountain coories i' the cloud An' naething steers within this warld 0' stormy lift, an'...

Sklaik

'Ye dinna tell me — damn the bit —' (A glimmer lichts the ee, Syne a the sklaik comes scalin oot, Like midden oozin bree.)It's pintless, syne, tae quanter them —Their argument's entire; 'There's...

Hist ye back

The howlet, teetin' frae the wid Jeloosed the moosie's track A dainty nippicky o' furA tasty hist ye backThe yowe gaed stytrin' throw the whin Oer oot-rigs lang, an' black;As hunkrin' doon, wi'...

Mither Tongue

Written on hearing the Rev. Lamont's Service in Scots,  Denburn Parish Church ’Twis a gey stammygaster, a meenister spikkin’ like yon — Nane o’ yer peely wally affairs, that hae ye hodgin’ i’ the...

The Dominie

The dominie thocht it an unca thing, The Mither tongue.Like Sabbath braws, he glorified gentility An’ hauled ma kail daily throw the rick Dubbin’ the Doric orra, coorse, ill-fared A peer realtion...

Sunday School Picnic

At first peep o’ the whussle we were aff — Hyterin by whins, a tattie wummlin’ on my speen, Pechin tae win the line.Chae cam first — a sleekit limmer o a loon, Swickin, his tattie held doon, firm,...

Hen’s Lament

It’s nae delight tae be a hen, Wi’ clooks an claws an caimb. Reestin wi the rottansIn a hen-hoose for a hame.Nae suner div I sattle doon,My clutch o’ bairns tae hatch;The fairm-wife comes — a...

Halloween

Fin nichts draw in an fires burn high An antrin bogies glower inbye An leaves gang tapsalteerie ower... Canny! Yon’s the witchin hour.Lift the neeps frae yont the dyke. Howk them oot wi muckle...

A Sair Miss

For A.J. Blackball, World Barley Champion Set doonWi the wecht o years at his back,A sklyter o yird flung ben,As a last fareweel.The mourners staun like hoodie craws Ower near the mou o the grave...

The Bogie

The Bogie bides abune the brae As queer as cannel-licht,For in a dwaum, I spied him there, Ae ghaistly, gurley nicht.His heid is hapt wi’ stringly web He hirples back an ben,A muckle humfy-backit...

Eternal Record

‘Pit yer penny on the plate,’ said Ma o’ rectitude, a pillar —(My need wis greater nor the kirk’s It AYE wis wintin siller.) ‘An dinna glower at me like yonWi’ sic a gurley look The Lord is...

Pet Shop

A hingin-luggit rabbit baps its feet, Its loupin’ snibbit in,Yarks its snoot, teetle the pen, Syne bauchles back, doup doon, Duntin the cage, in bye-gaun, Wi’ its croon.Heezin up abaneA squatter o...

Bairn-Sang

There’s a hole i’ the sky,At the back o’ the dayTae gang til’t naebody daursFor there, like a barfit bairn, stauns nicht Wi his neive stap-fu o’ starsThe day creeps oot, wi a hirplin’ gait A...

Shuffled Pack

There’s been misdeals, aboot the antrin pair A queen o’ hairts, his sattled wi’ a joker. Bit Matrimony’s an unchancy thingA gamble, like a skeely game o’ pokerThe bairns are trumps — I ken the...

Teem Slate

A tousie heid booed ower her latest trock (The cheapest wylins frae the sweetie shop) Bairn-pleased, an naethin blateWi twa, three, sticks o’ chalk,An’ a teem slate.A half-oor saw it cast aside...

In Absentia

‘Mak the maist o’t noo — Ye’r a lang time deid.’ Jokin’ like, the auld sang... Ay, bit it gars ye think An’ its nae sae wrang.I widna be comfyLoupin aboot wi muckle wings, Face as shiny’s a...

The Sodjer

Heatherin eerin orin aye,The drums are dirlin lood ootbye; Hiddledum diddledum deitherin deist, The pipes are willin the lads tae list.Too roo rantin reeHine awa an ower the sea; Hudderin heiderin...

Pastoral

Toun-fowk, wi' their cant o' couthie fairms O' reid-cheek't bairns, an hamely fare O' reemin brose bowls, sickle an the seed, Hinna the stab o' the plooIn their hairt's bluid.Like rattens i' the...

Dispossession

“See yon bit fairm on the brae-heid Stracht’s a cock’s caimb? Craw-wheeled biggins, cauld as leid, Reid, in the sun’s flame? Wir fowk aince vrocht yon lan, Kent ilkie stick an steen, Dour,...

Land Hunger

A dreep on the trough faas doon,The gate o’ the cattle- coort wallops ajee,The herdsman’s hishin the latchy kye till the byre, Sottar an tyauve, are the terms o’ a fairmer's fee.The plyter...

Dork's No Dodo

 For Cuthbert Graham Fowk spik aboot Scots Ay, wir ain Doric leid As if 'twis a dodoWha'd drappit doon deid!As mad tae conserve an preserve the auld wirds, As a gleg taxidermist, wi putrifeed...

Horse Hurl

for Andrew Watt, Farmer, New Deer “Ye'd sic a hurl on him, as far's the gate? Ah weel, he's foonert noo, an quate.”A hard-vrocht haun, scrat-fu o girse an straeHeistit me hine ower whin an dyke,...

A Mither Tint

Isobel Booth, Hillhead of Cairnie, SkeneThe mistress o' Tipperton, couthie and kind, She winted fur naething that siller cud gie, Wi only her chuckens, an calfies till tend, There's nane hid as...

The Spae Wife

Hidden awa, in a neuk o' the fair,Slicht, an sleekit, an sly,The spae wife sits, in the spae wife's tent, Watchin the fowk gaun by.Hidden awa, in her lang-luggit lair, Her skill, the gift o' the...

The Gowk and the Star

His kyte's weel happit, Fed an wattered reg'lar; His sheen are blaiked,His galluses are buttoned. He kens tae pairt his hair, If there be wint, that wint, Is nae fur claes.It's Reason, that he's...

Fishie's Van

Aladdin's cave, the fishie's van, Lions hug the seerip tin,Jars, wi pearly clouds o' bubble Pickelt ingins, soor as sin.The fishie's fuskered like a walrus,Hauns as steeny-cauld's a hake, Een like...

Dalriggin

Dalriggin wis sleekit — he'd teeth like a meer's,A snicher tae match them — a tongue like a shears, That'd clip ye tae size — he'd the braidth o' yer claith, Ye'd be thrimmles an thrummles afore...

Balmennie's Nell

She'd a lip wi' a mowser,Balmennie's wife Nell,Wi' a tongue that gaed clack,Like the haimmers o' Hell.A pirn-taed, obstreperous deem, Wi' her dander sae easy caad up, Like the stoor frae a...

Noah

The Lord looked doon on Noah, Said “Turn ilkie stick an stane, An capture ivery kind o' beast Afore it sterts tae rain.”They nippit up the gang plank, Strippit, spottit, black, an broon, Syne Noah...

Jist Dan

Stringin the wirds thegither, Like a blin man threidin beads, Fu's a puggie, hyterin happily Breeks bumshayvelt, spayver lowsedAe fit forrit, three steps back: Deef, tae peety or blame.Abody's...

Halloween

A chap at the door — a lichtit neep Rikken o' cannel-flame.The pitterin-patt o' feery feet; Guisers, thrangin the lane.The fleggit myowt o' a lanely bairn, Wha kens that aa's nae richt,Wis yon a...

Twa Bairn Days

Ile on Troubled WatterFive years auld.He caa'd me "Wee pudden"I caa'd him ower,Neived his wirds intil a ticht knot, Knuckled wi' Biblical accuracy, Richt intil his left ee.It moved, a jeely...

Wirds

Crusty, compact as a crabThe thorn o' wir hale confab, We canna lay hauns on't easyNiver say dab.Ruggin compliments frae us Is nae mean feat — Pairtin a sookin bairn Frae its mither's teat.Awkward...

Ophelia

Watter ay jives, leaves nae untidy seam. A salmon loup's bit a haun's clap, The neives knit ticht thegither,Haudin sic thochts! Derk, as Excalibur.Cast in a random steen,A muckle, gapin wound,...

The Reiver

Gin I cud haud the peesie in her flichtAn catch the sang that hovers in her throatGin I cud track the leverick ben the nichtAn reive the liltin limmer o' her noteI'd hae a sang wirth singin.Gin I...

Doon an Oot

A doon-an-oot. A wino. Her face wis minkit. Lord, she stank tae High HeavenTart's nails, beetroot reid,Braith, sickly sweet, Fit scaffie's binForgot tae pit the tin Lid on her?I tell ye I hid tae...

Condemned Building

Peint wirks winners, Happen a crack here,A death-watch beetle there ...The "For Sale" sign's doon, Naebody'd buy. Structurally spikkin,It's nae in a guid wye.It niver wis soun, i' the first place....

The Thwarted Suitor

That ony quine sud bring me doon, I' faith — it's maist provokin, I'm saft's a bap fin Belle's aroon, She disna gie a docken!I'd like tae fauld her tae ma breist, (An muckle mair beside)Bit dour's...

Tinker's Sang

The tinker sang aneth the meen,O' Love gaen wrang, the auld lament, O' aathing tint, an aathing taen, As if its sorra he hid kent.As birdies wheeple roon the gean, An pree the cherries frae the...

Miss McBrodie

Hard on the meenit-heid She snibs her buik.Her schule-marm suit,Sterched stiff, in Bible black, Nae fripperies o' stertlin fite For the bairns' distraction.Perjink — "Ye'll write yon oot...

Breem Beddit

The wids are wide, the heather's thick, It wraps her roon, a bonnie plaidie, The bracken winna clype nor cheep, The lea-lang nicht, he held her steady.An fin auld age creeps in twa-fauld, Maks o'...

Narcissus

Gin Narcissus hid bin human,(Insteid o' a wee powder puff o' whimsy) He'd nae been mesmerised b' mirrors. Mebbe the chiel wis real eneuch,Findin Reality a thochtie teuch, Forgot tae dicht his...

Lot's Wife

Luikin back, she saw her maiden-sel; Her sma breist, warmIn the palm o' his langin,The sliddery girse, the broon yird Movin aneth them.Twa in ain,A Beltane jinin,Makkin a wumminOot o' a trimmlin...

Winter Wooin

Smoorichin saftly throw the fir A wooer in a silken veilIs the sleety smirr,The doon-scud, i' the burnie's dreel, Dird-dirlin roon frae tap till tail, Is the fiddler's reel.The birks staun...

"Knowe efter knowe we dimmed an noo"

Knowe efter knowe we dimmed an nooWe spied the hinmaist muckle brooThe towerin crag that nane hae trodAe stride, an aa is lift, an God. Sri Aurobindo: 'One Day the Little More'.

Scots Owersettin Freely Transcribed frae the Inglis Translations wi'in the Elek Buik o Oriental Verse (General ed., Keith Bosley, 1979)

Hoose-Warmin SangTagalog (Phillipines) Auld caimb, auld caimb,Untaigle the raivelled thochtsO them wi'in, tae guid frae wirseAs ye've whyles caimbed ma hairFan yirdit wi dubs an girse,May they fa...

"Enjoy the yird doucely"

Enjoy the yird doucelyEnjoy the yird doucelyFur gin the yird be bladditIt canna be made haleEnjoy the yird doucely(from a West African Yoruba poem)

"The lan is oor mither"

The lan is oor mitherThe bluid o oor beinOor speerit- guide, oor kin-makkTae us, the lan is leevin.We are a part o lanAn lan is pairt o us.    Australian Aborigine

A Wizzent Tree

Chinese 8 Line SonnetHan Yu (768-824) (Late Tang)Nae twig, nae leaf on the auld treeAyont the hairm o cranreuch or o winA chiel cud wanner ben the hole in its teem wameEttercaps wummle aneth its...

Screived fur a Pictur

Tang Yin (1470-1523)Yestreen, the geanTint its flooers amang draps o rainThe faa o petals, sae slicht, sae easy-bladditWis bonnie ayont aa wirdsMa dearie, waukenin early,Quit her bedroomHaudin a...

"Mindin on him"

Lady Ono No Komachi  (834-880)Mindin on him,I sleepit, anely tae see himRise up afore me sae lythelyHid I kent it wis anely a dreamI'd niver hae waukened sae blythely.Flooers crine, their hues...

"If anely, fin ye war telt"

Anonymous Japanese Bard (pre 905)If anely, fin ye war teltAuld Age wis at haunYe cud sneck the door wi a dystCry "Nae at hame"Sae daein, jink the tryst!

Zen Death Poem

Owersett frae an Inglis translation o the JapaneseFower an fifty yearsI've strung the lift wi starnsNoo I lowp throw,Aa's caad tae crockanation!… Dogen

by Kito

Strivin ...Kirk bell,Winter win.

by Lady Kana-Jo

Reeshlin thegither —Heids o barley,Butterflee.

by Masahide

Steadin's brunt doon.Noo,I can see the meen!

by Buson

Ma clachan;DragonfleesDane, fite waas.Auld puil.Lowp-splyter!A puddock!Bens o Yoshino ...Drappin petals,Quaffin doon the lift.

Mair Owersettins in Scots Frae Extracts in "Prayer Handbook 1988 — Encounters"

Chinese SayingI wis angeret fur I hid nae sheen.Syne, I met a chiel fa hid nae feet.Samuel Rayan, IndiaA caunle-licht is a protest at midnicht.It is a Wee Free.It says tae the derkness,"Wi ye,...

The Leddie She Rides Jimp n' Sma

*The leddie she rides jimp n' smaJimp n' sma, imp n' smaThe leddie she rides jimp n' smaBit the gentleman he ridesCreels n' aa creels n' aa creels n' aa*The sheltie he rides weel on snawWeel on...

The Hindu & The Panda

"Ye wint mair savoir-faire, Jamal", they saidAn gied the job tae Willy Bloggs insteadA peely-wally eejit, bit I gaitherThe chiel fa did the hirin kent his father."Jamal", I speired, "Dis it nae...

Moosie

*There wis a little moosieAn it left its little hoosieAn it sneakit up, an creepit upIntil the baimie's bosie*It powked its pynted nosieIn the bosie warm n' cosie.An it curled up an kittled upWi...

Stinkie

Chin-chinnie, mou merryEe winkie, broo brinkieAn ower the hillies An awa tae stinkie*The stinkie is a fearsome placeThe hippens hap frae sichtAn whyles, the bairnie skirls tae sayThe stinkie needs...

A Thistle Luiks at a Drunk Man

A thistle luiks upon a chiel deid-drunkAa pish an blethers ... fu o fusky-spunk"His wife will bairn nae Wallace wi yon randyFaith aa he's fit tae play is cock-a-bendyThe Flooers o the Forest's...

The Punk

Ye throwither sumph. Fur aa yer wirthYe sud hae bin drooned in a pail at birth!Ay.. turn yer back on's.. powk yer plonksYer heid sud be doon in yer science buiksSpikkin o heids ... ye needna...

Snoot 'n' Mou

Gritty, nutty, sheltie-broonA guff o coffee lowps the yettA furly, birly snake o rikkTwines frae the kitchie, birsslin hettWersh in the mou, yon seerip, soorJeelip o potion fur a hoastAs nippy's...

Of Pharaohs and Sardines

Tut-ankh-amen, heid-yin o the dunesCairriet a veritable TescosO wine, fruit, guid fite breidDoon tae the fooshtie dwellin o the deid.(Fur iver an ay yon wizzened runkled pruneEmbalmed loon, maun...

The Gowfer

For Charles KingThere's some say "Lowp"An t'ithers, “Foo far?”In poleetical maitters ye maun shakk a legTae satisfee cooncil, constituent craitursFeenancial dictators, ye hae tae be gleg.Publishin...

The Shelt

Wis there IVER a bairn tae heed fit it's telt?Fur the 99th time, YER NAE GETTIN A SHELTTae prance like a laird roon a show or gymkhanaI'd raither ye speired fur a snake, or pirhana.I bocht ye a...

The Dinosaur

A dinosaur! A dinosaur!We niver saw the like aforeThe beastie makks the bairnies roarFrae Sumburgh tae Singapore!A dinosaur! His muckle mooHas teeth as lang as knives,An fin he roars the...

Tak the Buckles frae yer Sheen

Traditional verse, sung to Kelvin GroveTak the buckles frae yer sheen, bonnie lassie-ohFor yer dauncin days are deen, bonnie lassie-ohTho they say yer feet are flatYe are nane the waur o thatTakk...

The Tattiebogle

The tattiebogle wags his heidDerk shadda ower the yirdHe's hingin sterk an crucifeedThe dreid o ilkie birdHis jaiket pooch, a moosie haudsHis kyte's a kirn o straeAn ben the air his fooshty...

Ballad

Oh cauld's the doonrush o a burnIn Winter's iron thraaBit caulder still's a merriege bedFin luv his stowen awaFar niver gowden sun luiks doonSae derk's the gairden booerBit derker yet's the hairt...

October

Near Mairtimas the lowerin liftIs blae's the breistie o a dooThat rochles in the shargeret widFar thrissledown wauchts by like ooCrammosie, yalla, tod-reid-broonThe lowsin leaves yark aff the...

Care

Wisna easy, y’unnerstaun ... Ye war her flesh an bluid Seed o er seedBit she jist cudna haunle it Jist cudna thole it, see? Nae wye fur a hame tae beWi a bairn, boss o the hoose Oot on the...

The Auld Curiousity Shop

Fower ferlies bedd in a neuk A clarsach, a clock, a plateWi a caunlestick, yalla’s a stook Fa keepit his coonsel quate.The clarsach’s trimmlin note Aince gart a laird takk tent Ae pluck o her...

Simmer’s End: Deeside

The Dee lies smeeth’s a kelpie’s keekin-glaiss The swallin rose-hip skirps the brae wi reid Drookit wi sun, the purple heather blooms Forget-me-not uplifts her winsome heidA kirn o craws, blawn...

The Quoich

Fin pibroch lingers on the lug Fin wauchts o simmer come unsocht Fin saftsome wins, the laricks, rug, The Quoich rins aften ben ma thocht.A Heilan cateran, its puilsAre targs o crystal, purest...

Willie Tawse

Fin e’re the hoolet cried “hoot-toot” Willie Tawse stravaiged aboot Like a futterat he wid prance At a rave, he’d heid the danceHe’d shakk, he’d lowp, like fire in’t smiddy Like ony wino on...

Bog

Secrets bide in the bogO warld, an weird, an wid Still, an quate as a thocht Sooked deep doon, an hid.Midnicht meens lie there Happt bi broon peat breeLike coins in a kelpie’s lair Ye’ve tyned, an...

Skyscraper Faimly

Skyscraper faimly , it maun be a choreBidin twenty storeys frae yer ain front door.Bi day ye’ve gulls fur neebors, syne ye’ve stars aa nicht Save on the electric wi the meen fur licht.Skyscraper...

The Keepsake

Nae as muckle’s a fitscraperNee as muckle’s a braisse bawbee Did Aunt Margity pairt wi.An ye canna come richt oot ’n speir Wi the corp nae cauld.Bit dam’t, I wis sweirTae leave yon bottle o...

Garlogie School, Circa 1915

A bairn-play on the ‘Burial of Sir John Moore at Corunna’ taught to the poet by her mother, Winifred Booth.Slowly an sadly we laid him doonWe rubbit his nose in butter We pit him in a sardine...

Quasimodo

The sweet rot o the bramble buss, Scratched entanglement o firs, Places o half licht,Are jungles o concealment.Shaddaes, lang i the sun,Cannibalised, amang a wab o jylers. A wounded boar, riven wi...

Simmer Strand, North Sea Beach

The simmer sea’s a keekin glaissThe lift, saft as a cooshie dooTeets in o’t, wi an ee o ooDrappin feathers, pink, an grey, an pearl The sun skytes doon a sunbeam ower the swirl O buttercup-bobbin...

A Bumbee Stang Me

traditionalA bumbee stang meI winna tell ye far A bumbee stang me I winna tell ye far A bumbee stang me I winna tell ye far Roon at the back o My jeely jar!

The Futterat

The futterat snaps up mice, fur a wagerHis mowser’s brave as a serjeant majorHis een are hat preens Pink’s yer crannieHe likes bluid,Sae ye’d best ca-cannie He’d hae yer haun aff Flesh, thoomb,...

Tammy Tod

Tammy tod ahin the dykeDid ye steal Dan Wabster’s bike? Faither says that we maun watch Ye, ye tarry fingered vratchIn the hen hoose on the leaAre twa hens, far there war threeWi a dyeukie in yer...

The Heilan Fling

Licht’s a harebell on the BenStraucht’s a thrissle doon the glen Bob an birl like Jenny WrenTae daunce the Heilan fling ohLike a stag wi kinnelt bluidAirm, razzed heich abune her heid Ilkie step,...

Daddylanglegs

Daddylanglegs, like a crane Stots aroon the windae pane On his stilts he styters ben Wandrin Willies in the fen Like a muckle lang giraffe Ower mony legs bi hauf!

Midgies

Vampires roon the campfires Heeze heeze heezeMidgies midgies midgies Dinna bite please!Gang tae Transylvania Gang an takk a dookMidgies midgies midgies Yer naethin bit a sook!

ABC

From a traditional bairn rhyme, spoken by Charles Middleton A B CFin I wis threeI eesed tae like a tattyNoo I’m fower,Fowk staun an glowerAn aabody caas me fatty...,.

Doon in the Glen

Doon in the glen Wi horns like lums The snailie sleeps An the wyver thrums An the mavis threips Her sma sma tune Doon in the glenAt the broon beech foun

Dauncers

The rottens daunced alang the barnThe glegs they pranced abune the sharn Up bi the burn, fur a braisse bawbee Willie McArthur daunced wi me!

Mistress Craw

Mistress Craw Sat doon tae jaw Bit aa her neebors Ran awa!

The Hornygollach

I met a hornygollach. I winna tell ye far —His heid wis facin North an EastAn fit wis even waurHis airms an legs war bandy, fegs, His teeth bedd in a jar.I met a hornygollach. I likit him rale...

Snailie

Snailie snailie on the waa Are ye niver feart ye’d faa? Wi yer hoosie on yer backLike a hiker wi a pack?Feech, snailie, dicht yer snoot Slivvrin ower the waiter spoot!

Winter

The sna’s here It drappit doonA duvet ower the parkLet oot a sneeze Amang the treesOn ilkie timmer barkJack Frost he peintit sillerOn the fir tree’s sark.The sna’s hereThe robin wytesFur me tae...

Dandy

My lad’s a bonnie lad My lad’s a dandyMy lad’s a bonnie lad He likes sugar candyGin ye wint tae gie him a dramDinna gie him brandyTakk the bottle frae his heidAn gie him sugar candy

Fairm Toun

Cross rinnin watter — turn a nippy neuk Skiff roon a dyke an wauk a ferny brae Sheep dover in the gloamin. Rowans, dwaum The mist amang the birks is furlin, fey.It rings the fairm biggins like a...

Puil wi Turtles

Ibn Sara: Moorish Poet. Inglis Translation, Harold Moorland.Deep is the puil, that ower-reamsAneth the cweel, bricht, shooersSome like a greetin ee anethLashes o trimmlin flooersSee foo the...

The Coo’s-Lick

Al-Husri: Moorish Poet. Inglis translation, A.J. Arberry.A coo’s-lick curl, hung doon tae furl, Ma hairt sae teuch, doon in the sheugh.The blaik coo’s lick, wis fleetin rikk Yon fite physog, wis...

Lament in Andalucia

Al-Husri: Moorish Poet. Inglis translation, A.J. Arberry.In Andalusia,Fowk’s keenin-claes are fiteAn yon’s nae styte!I weir the stamp o ’ts truthIn ilkie fitenin hairThat murns fur ma tint...

The Prophet/The Druid

Quo a wife wi a bairn at her breist“Spik till’s o littlins”Sae he made repon, “Yer bairns arena yer bairns They’re the bairns o Life’s Langin fur leevin.They traivel ben ye, Bit arena pairt o ye....

Toun Blues

Gairdens are stane Bastilles Waas spiked wi shards o glaisse Far fat-arsed corgiesFyle smaa squars o girse.Gin ye stravaig tae a parkThe warld an its wife are there Tirrin a creashie sarkTae the...

The Scottish Bairnies’ Makker

“Is Jimmy Annand hereaboots? Tell him tae come ben”Cries auld St Andrew crousely “There arena mony menCan reel a rhyme as guid’s a gird The little fowk tae cheerThrow monys the stoory classroom...

“Tak tent. Ma wirds are steerin again”

Tak tent. Ma wirds are steerin again Claikin tae thirsels, wi meHarknin tae them, fooshionless.Puir Colotes, vratch an gadaboot o the thochtsAywis harknin tae the wirds reamin ower Sayin, “Ye,...

“Tae the hungeret, blytheness is meet”

Tae the hungeret, blytheness is meetTae the blin, blytheness is sichtTae the droothy, it’s watter melled wi wine Tae Dolophon, it’s his teethTae the forhooied,It’s their deid kin in the moolsTae...

“Dreichly, the days caa aff”

Dreichly, the days caa aff Wir roch neuks.They hakk us inno trim Or they brakk us.

“The sea’s satty”

The sea’s satty The sea’s blue. Ma tongue says(Gin I’m up tae ma neb in the ocean)I can sup the satt.Hyne awe free the sea,I spy the blue. Bit I canna dae baith thegither —An fa bit me wad...

“The sotter ma sheens’ in ...”

The sotter ma sheens’ in, ’s fair orra.Neebors caa it scunnerin, ’speecially the weemin.They winna trauchle on wi meMuckle langer … Caad tae crockanation!An syne far’ll they fin A hame an...

“Whyles, I’m gled”

Whyles, I’m gledThe sea blootersThe scrats Screived DoonItsMargins.It dichts itselClean like a bawdronsEfter’n aa …Think o the sossGin aa the sansWere merkedForiver an ayeWi the names an graffitiO...

The Man in the Meen

The man in the meen is a hardy gurranWi ice in his ee , an stars in his sporranHe teets in the windaes, the burns, the lochs The puils in the cassies, the stirkies’ trochs He strikks a glint frae...

Here's the Kirk

Here’s the kirk, an here’s the steeple Open the yetts, an here’s the people The meenister preached tae Thee an me “Aabody’s damned bit us,” quo he “The Turks, the Hindis, the Chinee tee Fur we are...

Trial by Cutlery

Serviette ower lap or thrapple? Blaw on soup — or brunt yer mou? Ett yer pudden wi a fork. Yon’s a stammygaster, noo!Brakk a croissant wi yer fingers? (Fur it skytes aneth a knife Flees across yer...

Roman Villa, Alcudia

Sun, shadda, palm.Thrush’s clashin anvil Teem shellSun, shadda, palm Time’s sounless file Teem lairach.

AIDS

The act o luv brings daith insteid o lifeThe plague o AIDS strikks silent as a scythe The Reaper skitters skulls mangst bits o bairns Takks flooers frae luvers’ hauns, tae hansel cairns.

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever/ Birse Farmer, Circa 1963

Heich simmer makks the hochs a love-juice cauldron. Dauchlin astride a sunshine-drookit dykeI heard an engine purr, an iron bawdron.The bowfin o a coo’s-lick touslie tyke.Syne suddent, frae ayont...

The Sang o Amheirgin

The 1st Irish poet, Amheirgin, came to Ireland in 1268 BC & composed “The Song of Amheirgin”, which has been handed down orally. It appears in English in The Celts by Frank Delaney. Here, it is...

Yule & Simmer

Owerset in Scots frae the Welsh poet Thomas Telynog Evans(1840-65) Aa the blytheness o NaturBeeriet in the mools o blaikest Yule! The win sang a dowie lament — Sic dule in its cauld cry keenin!...

The Burn an the Ben

Owerset in Scots frae the Welsh poet John Ceirog Hughes (1833-87) Burn o the Bens, slokin an pureBirlin doon tae the glenFusperin sangs i’ the girseWad that I war as ye!Heathery knowes in flooerAt...

Tae the Sun

Owerset in Scots, frae the Heirskip o the Scots Gaels “Guidday tae ye, sun o the Sizzens.As ye traivel the lift hyne abuneStinch is yer fit on the cloudsBlythe mither o the starnies.”“Ye coorie...

Heich fur Houghmagandie!

The makk o man is richt designed A wummin’s pud tae pleisurGin he’s weel-hung, she’ll draa the bung Tae praise him in guid meisur An he may chap his tirlin-pin Her yett tae caa ajeeFur ilkie merry...

“In This Braif Toun”: No363 Union Street (Bruce Miller’s)

Afore that this braif toun wis bigged ava Langsyne the lan wis roch, an taiged wi whin A puckle staunin stanes raise tae the sky A Druid circle in the keenin winThe pagan priests were maisters o...

Ins an Oots

They skelp a baa aroon a park, aimin fur a hole Preenin aa their veesion on a flag abune a pole —Or kick a baa aroon the girse, dubs frae buits tae kneeRinnin back an forrit, like a reid-ersed...

The Bothy & Beyond

Scottish musician and singer Steve Byrne will be hosting a practical class in the Muckle Sangs of Scots, beginning at 3pm in Teviot Row House, 13 Bristow Square, Edinburgh. Tickets cost £6...

Bothy Nichts

Scottish musician and singer Steve Byrne will be hosting (with other singers) a night of traditional songs at Teviot Row House, 13 Bristow Square, Edinburgh, beginning at 7pm. Tickets are £10 (£7...

Borders Bards

Borders Bards Story Circle meets at 7.30pm in The Councty Inn, 35 High Street, Peebles to tell stories, exchange ideas and provide a space for performance. Please contact Daru Macaleece on...

Singin The Sea

The Scottish Fisheries Museum, St Ayles, Harbourhead, Anstruther Easter, Fife, is hosting 'Singin The Sea', a special workshop devoted to the traditional tales and songs of the Scottish fishing...

Guid Crack wi Spence

James Spence will be holding a night of traditional tales to celebrate midsummer, at the Waverley Bar, 3-5 St Mary's Street, Edinburgh, 7.30pm. Donations welcome. Please contact...

Crackin wi Mark Thomson

On Tuesday 30 April Dauvit Horsbroch and Katrina MacLeod from the SLC caught up with Dundonian poet Mark Thomson. For the past few years Mark has been making a name for himself through his poetry...