Articles categorised as Writing

Jings, Crivens! Oor Wullie`s turning English

Anne Hoyer from Heidelberg University has been carrying our research into the language used in the Sunday Post's Oor Wullie cartoon strip. Hoyer has discovered that Wullie is using less Scots than...

Kidnapped Translated

It won't be the first time that Kidnapped has been translated but it surely is the first time the Stevenson novel has been rendered in Scots and as a graphic novel too. Kidnappit is the latest...

Plays in Scots for Schools

Roy McGregor and Liz Niven have edited a new book entitled 'Scottish Plays for Schools' through the Association for Scottish Literary Studies and published by Hodder Gibson. This work includes six...

New book scratches an itch

A newly published book from Itchy Coo - entitled 'Geordie's Mingin Medicine', which is a translation from English into Scots of a Roald Dahl work, has now reached number one in Waterstone's...

Book of Scots terms

Artist Scott Simpson has illustrated a series of Scots words by assigning a character to each one. These include 'ned', 'clype', 'crabbit' and many other well known words. Wrongly reported by the...

Ellie an da sail needle

Written and read by Iris Sandison from the album Hansel o Stories published by Hansel Cooperative Press http://www.hanselcooperativepress.co.uk/

Convention o Modren Leids Associe

Professor John Corbett, fae the Versity o Glesca, will be giein a paper cryed ‘The Future Oors? The Scots Language in Iain M Banks’s Feersum Endjinn and Matthew Fitt’s But ‘n’ Ben a Go Go’, as a...

Revisiting the Makars

The Text Society for Leids o Scotland (Scottish Text Society) is tae haud the first in a screed o twa-yearly lectures in honour o Angus McIntosh. At 5.15pm on 7 Januar Professor Felicity Riddy...

Association for Scottish Literary Studies

The Associe for Lair in the Leetraturs o Scotland (Association for Scottish Literary Studies) is haudin its yearly confeerance at the Netherbow Theatre, 43-45 High Street, Embra. The day is tae be...

Conversation Now Translated into Scots

The Scottish Government’s 'National Conversation' document, published in the autumn of 2007, has now been translated into the Scots language. Ministers Linda Fabiani and Maureen Watt are to be...

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...

Read the Lorimer New Testament

For more information about Lorimer's Scots New Testament visit www.booksfromscotland.com/Books/The-New-Testament-In-Scots-9781841951447

Aye write in Glesca

As pairt o Glesca's Aye Write fest the will be a day gien ower tae the Scots leid, cryed 'Writing in Scots: A series of three linked workshops', sponsored bi the Langage Comatee o the Associe for...

Anniversary of oldest surviving document in Scots

The month of March marks the anniversary of the oldest entire text in Scots, strictly speaking. On 12 March 1380 (1379 old calendar) Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk put his seal to a letter (see text...

Two hundred years of Scots dictionaries

It is now two hundred years since the Rev John Jamieson (1759-1838) published the first dictionary given over entirely to the Scots language, in 1808. Jamieson was born and brought up in Glasgow...

Entries invited for Doric Competition

Entries are now invited as part of the Doric Festival writing competition. Competitors must either write a poem, short story or one-act play to be submitted by the deadline of 19 September 2008....

Names in Scots - Places in Scotland

This section of the website is intended to provide a guide to Scots forms of personal and place names. There are few areas where the process of smothering Scots is more apparent than in its names...

Names in Scots - Personal

As one might expect, Scots speakers have traditionally had their own forms of first and family names, just like every language community. For example, though the name David was often written the...

Oldest act of government in Scots

In the year 1397 – apparently during the month of April – a General Council of the Kingdom was held at Stirling. The significance of this Council for Scots was the statute that it passed in the...

New series of books from Scottish Dictionaries

The people at Scottish Language Dictionaries have created a new series of little books based on the Scots language which are called ‘Say it in Scots.’ Brand new this month, and published by ‘Black...

Craigmillar baby books

The Craigmillar Books for Babies scheme has been going for 10 years. As well as work done in the community there are colourful illustrated rhyme cards which can be downloaded. These include...

Booktrust advice for baby books

Scottish Booktrust have a pamphlet on reading with young children, aimed at parents and carers. It is available in Scots: 'Stertin-up wi buiks'

Names in Scots - countries abroad

As with personal and place names, the use of names in Scots for countries has been smothered in modern times because officialdom in Scotland has preferred the English forms. A particular trait of...

Sally on Sunday discuss Scots New Testament

Sally Magnusson discusses the Scots New Testament with Priscilla Lorimer http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/scotland_aod.shtml?scotland/religion1_sun

Four Gospels now on CD

This week sees the publication in CD format of recordings of the four Scots gospels. Tom Fleming’s readings from the Scots New Testament bring to life the great stories of Lorimer’s translation....

Annual ASLS Election

The annual meeting and election of the Association for Scottish Literary Studies will be held at 1pm in the Department of Literature, 7 University Gardens, Glasgow. This will be followed by a...

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I hae been feil thrang, I can tell ye that.  Syne I'll be daein Scottish History at Uni in September, I decidit tae get a heid stairt a while back an read aw the Scottish history buiks I cuid get ma hauns on.  Nou, its intressin stuff, I can grant ye thon, but its no hauf haird gaein at twa in the mornin!  

Wi thon in mind, I tuin a day aff frae heivy readin yesterday an read throu Ian Hamiltons "The Taking of the Stone of Destiny".  It wis a quick read, but boy wis it a guid ane.  I jalouse ye aw ken the story by nou, its awmaist pairt o wir naitional fowklair the nou; nanetheless, I'd recommend the buik tae aw Scots fowk.  The hail thing's a wul rollercoaster an nae dout!  It seems the fower yung heroes cuidna gae twa meinutes but rinnin intae the polis - an whit wi car saets, campin gypsies an snawy gates the hail thing comes aff as a true modren adventure o the heichest order.  Absolutely braw; an ye needna gree wi aw o Hamilton's thochts tae enjoy the story o ane o wir kintra's cheekier victories.

An nou ontae the nae less important but sumwhit less inspiring maitters o the intricacies o the fuedal seistem...

The ithir Lumsk album I ordered cam throu this week.  It's cried "Det Vilde Kor" (The Wul Choir), wi the leirics taen frae a buik o poems o the samyn name by the Norrowegian makar Knut Hamsun.  It cuid aiblins be a bit mair metal nor in fack it is; but the melodies is bonnie, there's a guid rainge o styles kivvered, an it's in the end a no bad follae up tae "Troll."

Sang o the Week : The Beatles - In My Life.  Bonnie sang, that.


God Bless,

Dunc",
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Chorin Stanes...

Hello aw, howp ye hae aw been fine this hinmaist week. I'm nippin out in a bit, sae jist time fer a wee blog this week I hae been feil thrang, I can tell ye that. Syne I'll be daein Scottish...

waith n. a piece of property which is found ownerless

Waith is related to the word waif, which started out as a legal term with the same meaning, but is now more often used to conjure images of Dickensian orphans. In medieval Scotland, waith referred...

Oldest Diplomatic Act in Scots

The background to the Common Ridings was the lawless nature of the borderlands which persisted between the 13th and 17th centuries. There were often feuds between kindreds and frequent raiding by...

Border Ballads

The publication of Sir Walter Scott’s ‘Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border’ in 1802 was the foundation for the belief that the ballads of the Scottish Borders constituted the greatest ballad...

Imprentit: 500 years of the Scottish printed word

Printing's profound impact in Scotland across five centuries is the focus of the National Library of Scotland summer exhibition with treasures on show from its historic collections. To...

The complaint of the Black Knight

John Lydgate's poem "The complaint of the black knight", commonly attributed to Chaucer, was published in Edinburgh in 1508 by Walter Chepman and Andrew Myllar. The tale is written in Middle Scots...

To a Mouse

Robert Burns’ “To a mouse” is one of the poems published in the first collection of his work, commonly known as 'the Kilmarnock edition'. John Wilson printed it in Kilmarnock in 1786. More on the...

yerk v. bind tightly; beat, whip, strike; snatch, wrench, etc.

Yerk (or yark) is recorded in medieval English, and although it has generally fallen out of use south of the border, it is still known and used in Scots and in some regional dialects of English....

Thochts fae the burd table

Hallo. A'm nae yaised tae this here new-farrant wey o bletherin cawd bloggin bit A'll gie it a shottie. Oo dae ken yin anither yit bit thats nae a baud thing whan oo dae oo micht for hae yin - twa...

Centre and Lorimer Trust set to merge

At a meeting held last week at the National Library, members of the SLC Council agreed to consider a proposal to take over the running of the Lorimer Trust, the body set up to raise awareness of...

Fouth n. abundance

As I was out walking the dog the other day, the word fouth kept coming into my mind. In the waist-high vegetation, there was that almost threatening overabundance that the English metaphysical...

SLD seeks Outreach Assistant

Scots Language Dictionaries have advertised the post of Outreach/education assistant (3 days a week), £18,000 (pro rata). The successful candidate will assist in a number of important areas...

New Writing Scotland 27 published

The latest volume of 'New Writing Scotland', from the Association for Scottish Literary Studies, is about to hit the streets. Entitled ' In the Line of Fire' this will be number 27 in the series...

Calling Doric writers

The Annual Doric Writing Competition is calling for entries. Writers may submit up to three entries in all categories. The categories are Short Story (£50 prize, £25 runner-up), Poem (£50 & £25),...

Doric Writing Awards

The winners of the Doric Writing Competition will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held in the Gordon Arms Hotel, Huntly, beginning at 7pm. There will be entertainment by various artists....

The Invisible Language

The Auld Scotch, Glaswegian, Glesca Scots, The Patter. These are the names by which the native language of the city of Glasgow – and surrounding region – have been known in modern times, and which...

Old Testament Book translated into Scots

Duncan Sneddon's Scots translation of the Old Testament book of Amos can now be read online on the Church of Scotland's website. It was first published this spring in the "Theology in Scotland"...

New Testament Readings now on Kirk web site

The Scots Language Centre’s series of weekly readings from the Lorimer New Testament can now be heard on the Church of Scotland’s web site as well as at the Centre and the web site of Homecoming...

Breaking the mould

After the Union with England in 1707, it was the language of that country that increasingly came to be the language of formality and officialdom, in spite of the fact that most people spoke Scots....

Debased or Evolved?

From the end of the 19th century onwards the speech of Glasgow came increasingly under attack by the authorities. The Scots language was generally being discouraged and punished, initially through...

The Patter Strikes back?

In the 20th and early 21st centuries the dialect of Glasgow has been the subject of several research projects and popular books. Research into the health of the language (of which work by Dr...

Strinberg in Scots at Edinburgh Festival

August Strinberg’s play, Den Fredslöse, will be performed in a Scots translation at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The performance of David Purves’s translation, The Ootlaw, by Theatre...

Sangschaw 2009

The Scots language Society has announced its yearly literary competition, called Sangschaw. The Society administrator, John Law, commented that this competition contributes to the status of the...

SLS Annual Collogue

The Annual Collogue of the Scots Language Society will take place on Saturday 10 October 2009 at the A.K. Bell Library, York Place, Perth. This year’s theme is ‘The Interaction between Scots and...

Stanley Robertson

Stanley Roberston (1940-2009) was well known as one of the country’s most accomplished storytellers. He was a singer, a writer and a campaigner for the traveller community. Stanley’s life and...

New paper on history of language study in Orkney and Shetland

In Orkney in July participants at the conference of the Forum for the Languages of Scotland and Ulster heard a fascinating paper from Professor Michael Barnes on the history of the study of the...

Starting Thursday – Sheena Blackhall reads Minnie on SLC site

From September the Scots Language Centre will be delivering more audio and video based features to its ever growing online audience. Sheena Blackhall’s novella, Minnie, will be podcast on the...

Scots Language podcast

This year long series in the Scots language explores the history of Scotland's royal dynasties. In this part we have an introduction to the series. Audio and Youtube video versions are...

Back Again

Twa traivlers gaed ance to the Hielans awa I' the hairst: ah ! it’s then that the Hielans are braw ! The tane he gaed — to be like the lave ; The tither his ane he’rt’s greinin’ drave. An’...

David Toulmin - A Chiel Amang Them

Author and farm labourer, David Toulmin began his life as John Reid. Hugely popular in North East Scotland in the sixties and seventies his books frequently sold out in the region and borrowing...

Sae Mony Summers

The winning short story in the 2009 Toulmin writing competition Sae Mony Summers was written by former teacher Eleanor Fordyce. Born in Aberdeenshire and now living in Angus, Fordyce enjoyed using...

Brownsbank open to public

The farm labourer's cottage at Brownsbank, Candy Mill in South Lanarkshire, where Hugh MacDiarmid and his family lived from 1951 to 1978, will be open to the public on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13...

David Toulmin Talking

Noted expert on Scottish literature, Professor Isobel Murray of Aberdeen University, carried out the following interview with David Toulmin for her Scottish Writers Talking series of books. In...

Scotland's Literature

Donald Smith, Director of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, will be giving a a six week talk entitled 'Scotland's Literature - Scots, English and Gaelic' at the Centre, 43-45 High Street,...

Launch of 'For A' That'

The launch of a new book entitled 'For A' That' will take place at the Dundee Rep Theatre at 7pm. The University of Dundee has commissioned various wriers to put together an anthology celebrating...

South Lanark Adult Scots Project

South Lanarkshire Council has recently taken a few steps towards literacy for Scots speakers. David McDonald, who is an Adult Literacy Worker with Community Learning Service, has been working on...

Annual Collogue of Scots Language Society

The Annual Collogue of the Scots Language Society will take place on Saturday 10 October 2009 at the A.K. Bell Library, York Place, Perth. This year’s theme is ‘The Interaction between Scots and...

A Chat with Ajay

Ajay Close is the Writer in Residence at the Soutar House in Perth and has been for the past couple of years. Ajay is an established writer who has published several works. The Soutar House is...

A Tour With Soutar

Living in the very house where William Soutar lived, wrote, and died, has given Ajay Close an intimate knowledge of the life and work of the man. There are various momentos and items of furniture...

The Friends of Soutar

In 2007 a group called 'The Friends of William Soutar' was established in Perth to do more to promote the life and work of the poet. The President of the Friends is Iain Mackintosh. In this short...

A Soutar Poem

In the following audio file, Iain Mackintosh, President of the Friends of William Soutar, reads s short poem by William Soutar. Please click your mouse on the file to hear it. Black Day A skelp...

The works of Sheena Blackhall

Sheena Blackhall is well known for her poetry, writing for children and expertise on the language and culture of the North East of Scotland. Here we have two documents which provide complete...

New Book published by William Hershaw

Scots language poet, teacher and musician William Hershaw has published a new work - Johnny Aathin. The work contains prose and poetry in Scots and is set in a fictional Fife coal mining village....

Minnie Episode 13

From their hiding place Minnie and Isie listen to the ceremony. The lads take an oath and then over several drinks the secrets of horsemanship are shared. The cousins struggle to keep their...

Tribute to Stanley Robertson

The life of storyteller and writer, Stanley Robertson, will be celebrated at an event to be held on Saturday 28 November at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. Reek roon the Campfire...

New RLS Website Now Live

A new website about the life and work of Robert Louis Stevenson is now live on the internet. With full information about RLS’s life, pictures never before seen by the public and downloadable...

Colour in the first Scots books

Printing in the Scots Language didn't start in Scotland – it started in Paris in 1503, with two incredibly beautiful books. Densely illustrated with finely drawn woodcuts, the books were produced...

Question in Scots Makes Parliament History

History was made in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 7 January when an SNP MSP became the first person to ask a parliamentary question and a follow-up question in Scots. Western Isles MSP...

Scots language blogging

Moray Firth Live, a news agency for the North and North East of Scotland have an area on their website for blogs, contributed by a variety of writers. They now have a contributor who is writing in...

Gie's back oor place names

The following article appeared in Lallans and is reproduced here with the kind permission of David Purves. There is no English version of this article.  Seeminlie, at ae tyme the war a lassie in...

Literature Working Group

The Scottish Government's literature working group has published its policy proposals. The report contains recommendations concerning literature and publising in Scots. This page collects Scottish...

David Toulmin writing competition 2010

The David Toulmin Prize for short story writing  commemorates the life and work of the popular North-East writer. Entries to the competition should take the form of  short stories about some...

Iseabail's list of resources about Scots language in literature

Association for Scottish Literary Studies. Deals with literature and language in English, Scots and Gaelic.  http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/ScotLit/ASLSBuchan, David (1981) Scottish Tradition: a...

Iseabail's list of literature in Scots language

Collections of Modern Scots Fenton, James (2000) Thonner an Thon. An Ulster Scots Collection, Belfast: Ullans Press. Poetry and prose in Ulster Scots. MacCallum Neil R and Purves, David eds...

Iseabail's list of resources about Scots language policy and attitudes

Aitken, A. J. (1981, 1990) 'The good old Scots tongue: does Scots have an identity?' in Einar Haugen et al. eds. Minority Languages Today, Edinburgh University Press, 72-90. Aitken, A. J. (1982)...

Edinburgh Library list of rescources for the study of Scots language

Bryght Lanternis, Essays on the language and literature of mediaeval and Renaissance Scotland, Aberdeen, Aberdeen University Press, 1989Whilst dealing with the language historically this work...

Gods of Grayfriars Lane Episode 1

It is September 1899 and the story starts in the provincial town of 'Divana'. We meet some of the local characters who are awaiting with interest the arrival of the new residents at the flat on...

Help Wanted in Publishing the Old Testament in Scots

The Blether Region blog reports that Kenneth Fraser, long-time author of the Lallans column in the monthly Scots Independent, is appealing for help in bringing to publication an almost complete...

Scottish Government Responds to Literature Working Group Report

On 4 February, the Scottish Government produced its official response to the literature working group’s report. Among many other points, the group recommended that the Government should encourage...

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...

Johnny

Fowk squattit in doorwyes —Shifty-eed, reid-biddy earls,Watchin the seamen scalin aff the docks, Scraunin the streets for a hard-faced quine, Buyin an 'oor o warmthFar the screichin seagulls...

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...

The Lintie

The lintie lichtit on the bough Abune twa lovers trueAn' sweet an' lang she sang her lilt Fin love wis fresh, an' new.Fin love grew auld, the bird cam' backBit didna hinner lang For `Fegs,' quo'...

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...

Government Responds to the Ministerial Working Group

On Friday last week, the Scottish Government published its response to the recommendations of the Ministerial Working Group on the Scots Language. The response comments about recommendations on...

Lost Scots dictionary found

A Scots dictionary compiled by 18th century biographer, James Boswell, has been found in the Bodleian Library by Scots language expert, Susan Rennie, reports Scotland on Sunday.  

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...

Kith and Kin

He taks efter my side Man, there wisna wan o the line That couldna wheeple a tune. Black-haired as crawsAn’ kittlesome, quanter-kine.It eesed tae bamboozle me sairThe interest fowk showed in a cot...

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...

The Spik o' the Lan

The clash o' the kintra claik Rins aff ma lug, as rainTeems ower the glaissy gape O' the windae pane.The chap o' the preacher's wird, Be it wise as Solomon,It fooners on iron yirdBrakks, upon...

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...

The Funeral

Jock an Sandy rigged fur kirk —They vowed, they wadna missed it. Twa chiels tae bid a third adieu, The dear departit, kistit.Quo Sandy — “He's awa frae't aa, His gear is easy pairtit,Fur sic a...

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...

Letter from a Distressed Auntie

Dear Brither —Jist a note tae say,He's settled doon rale fine... Forbye's a twa, three thingies —He's a maist inquirin mind! He's fichered wi the knobbies, Till the tractor winna start, He tint...

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...

The Country Doctor

For Dr. L.K. DawsonHe's a merriege guidance cooncillor, A dominie, a priest.It's like Jehovah's judgementYon forbiddin cry o' "Neist!”“Wee Jimmy's got the bellyache? D'ye tak me fur a feel?Wi half...

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...

Four Bairn Sangs

The BatThe Bat's a midnicht falderal, An upside doon asleep, Umbrella at a funeral,Hung in the kirk, tae dreep.Oh blin-eed, blearie, fleein moo We canna as be bonnie,Bit fin the Lord dispensed...

Points of a Compass

A village voyeur, Blearie beldame,Lifts the screen on scandal.She's maistered the drapped suggestion, The sleekit question. Sookin up sklaik,Auld slorrach, Horny-gollachin her wyeBen creepy-crawly...

Gloaming

For the folk of Muick, Gairn and TullichIn the queer half-licht o' gloamin, The dreich win hauds its braith, It's then that fowk walk wary, An the birk stauns still as daith.In the queer...

Nicht Fears

Fin dweeble dwines the day awa, The meen's a yalla, rikkin ring, Steerin the cauldron o' the gloam, The howlet's horror, on the wing.Sherp-clookit futteret leaves the dyke, The bat's sma screich's...

The Tea Pairty

For Robbie and Esma Shepherd.English bedd in the wireless. We let it oot, whyles,Turnin a knob, fur a bit diversion. Min', we hidna a doonricht aversion til't It jist didna belang;Keepit fur...

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...

The Serpent's Sang

For A. Maker.Gin I wis ivy I wid twineYon lang, lean limbs, unyieldin's stare, Sear laggard thocht — a kinnelt vine, Wi' leaves o' langin fill his een.He'd learn tae loe me, quick eneuch, Gin he...

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...

The Holocaust

The futterat an the cooshie doo Looked doon frae Bennachie, An saw a skyrie mushroom, Growin hine up frae the sea.“Gweed sakes an Lord b' here,” they cried, “Fit queer-like ferlie's thon?I'd sweir...

The Roundabout

Each man's an embryo-cell, Each mither cairries,A livin waa o' bluid,Limits wir scope,Sneckit within,The derkness o' heredity.Bairnhood swaps ae confine For anither. Tethered ahin The apron...

Time Scale

Gin the clouds war teemin graves, Scalin the horde o' humanity, Back, till the hinmaist generation, Aa their pith an pooer,Doon in a steep rain,'Twid be a short shower, tummlin.Ye may rin tae the...

Bull

Hinnered b' dark,I gaed unsteady fittit.The steadin's bulk, moose-squeakin In the cat's paw, o' the torch.It fixed a hingin towe, A scaled sack,In its selective clook. The kent road wrang, Stanes...

Towser

Towser — got on a wirkin bikk, The Lord kens whaur,B' a sire that wis three quarts wolf, Touch, gin ye daur.He'd seek yer haun, sud the humour suit, A roch, weet tongue, an a powkin snoot, At a...

Hame-Drauchtit

There's waur-aff fowk;I've a hoose, an a rikkin lum, I've meat in ma wame,An a puckle o years tae come; Bit lang's the unquate nicht Fin the clash o the day is deen. An oh, it's a sair-made...

Glen Muick i' the Mither Tongue

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 O stormy lift, an...

Lochnagar in Autumn

D'ye see yon lowrin BenBroon as the brackened grun, Lordin the hale o the glen, Darklin oot the sun?Its burns come whummlin doon, Croonin their ain lament, Wheeplin their wee bit tune Wi the gowd...

Allt Darrarie

Burn of the Stunning Noise, Glen MuickSlaverin, slubberin, gibberin, gabberin, Roon wi a wallop, a sklyter, a sweel,Yonder's the burn, in its bairnhood, it's blabberin Heich-lowpin puddock, wi...

Allt an-t-Sneachda

The Snowy Burn, Glen MuickCauld as the cawin o a craw, Deid-thraa o Sorra ... Winter's loun Lays on its broo, the skirps o snaw, Black widow-weeds, its goun. In Spring, it's lowpin like a bawd,...

The Salmon

Oh tae be a salmon, comin skelpin doon the Dee! Simmer scalin ower ma tail,Lowpin through the linns,Wummlin ower the rapids, i' the cauld, snaw bree, An jinkin as the fishers wi ma fins.I widna...

River Images

There's eloquence in watter, The swack-tongued element ... A gushin Babylon,Screivin lang langamachies in puils. There's danger in keekin. Frae a heich altarThe water thunners doon a sermon....

Dee Journey

A caller skelp o stane an storm, Braeriach's sides are tempest-torn; An in yon weety, derksome wame, Whaur win is ice an sun's a flame, The birlin Dee is born. A sna-brig haps her growin tide,-...

Monaltrie's Men

for Captain A.A.C. Farquharson, Invercauld*As I cam doon the Pinkie Brae An ben the rodden den,I thocht I heard the trampin O' Monaltrie's Heilanmen... 'Twis jist the rattle o the breem, The...

Tomnaverie

for Dr. Cuthbert GrahamHeich upon muirlan girse they lie, A linkit chine o fitenin stanes Aybydan neth a shiftin sky; Weird as a boorichie o banes.The bluebells ring the girssy puil, The nichts...

Beaker Scot

I live,Anely as pairt o this braid lan,This knottit neive o cliff an furlin gull Staunin atween the neep parks an the sea.I luik,Anely as pairt o the raven lift, Gadhelic widden-dreme,O a tummelt...

War Time. 1914-1918

For Private William Middleton, Gellan, CoullI'm telt ye threw yer watchOotower the kirk. The hinmaist Thing ye did on the wye tae war. Prood o yon time-piece,Feart it wad be bladdit.Did it stop...

Peat Gaitherin, Birse

Hill-girt; the storm's stramash:A hoolet's myowt. The skelp o rain Dancin a hoolichan on the fairm pane. Kerfuffled bed claes, bairns whisperin: "Gin the morn's fine, we gaither peat."Tongues...

Twa Views o Glen Gairn

The Licht o Love“A fleerich o moosies' backs are the knowes o Mar, Fleein the raven's wing o Lochnagar.”"Oh, bit yer wrang; it's the airm o the muckle Ben, The shepherd o hind an hare, takkin care...

Ower Blate

The gangrel kittlin's feart tae raxx an purr In perfect warmth afore the forkit flameAn sae bides ootlinned-neuked, bedraiggled fur, Nur winna steer the reid hearth-heat tae claim.The table's...

The Slichtit Lassie's Sang

Hard an sudden, as the huntsman's shot Sinks i' the saftness o the snawy dove,Deep as the dirk on its derk business quests, I' the gralloch o the stag,Sae wad I loue ye, love.I'd mak my skin as...

Destiny

My bairns walk blythely on the open muir —Their path is straucht an sunny. Mine is blae. They min rejoicin; I maun hirple, sweir, I fear the howes o derksome Destiny.She sits an spins the thrums...

Spring in Cromar

Spring in Cromar is an open yett,Wi the heich rigs turned an black,Whaur the creepie-crawlie tractor climms Frae the ploo-cuts at its back.The meltin muir is rinnin weet,A hare in an ermine...

Year's End

The bonnie birds are winged an gaen, Yowes hug the dykes like driven sna: The anely cry that rings the rigs, The brukken caa'in o the craw.An cauldly cruel's the win that cuts The birks sae barely...

Last Step

by Tullich, overlooking the Coyles There's nae a finer sicht in the warld: Than the last step nearest hame.There's nae a burn, bit I ken its turnAn its roarin road's my ain.Quate they lie neth...

The Bonnie Banks o Dee

Tho Springtime gars the sna-bree rin An sweet's the day, wi blossom bricht, Oh yatterin peesie haud yer wheesht, For as tae me is constant nicht.Tho simmer turn the barley broon, The sonsie heids...

The Back o Beyond

Linn o QuoichFit div ye dae at the Back o Beyond? 'Twid tak me a year tae tell!As weel coont gowd in a goblin's crock Or steek the sea-in a shell.Ye may lizard-lie on a lazy rock, A sprig o an...

Ballater Bairnhood

Rage they did till their tongues were lair -- Faith — nettle's a gey short sting. A skelpit dowp an a grumphin glower, Ne'er clippit a lintie's wing.I niver cared, dell nur docken,They micht...

Watter

Raither than rainin cats an dugs, Whit if it rained doon fowk insteid? Dreichdoms o dominies; Lochans o artists;Puddles o Civil Servants Pitterin ower yer held?A muckle, great, clorty sea; O...

The Poacher

The meen wis a scythe new-sherpened, The burn wis a feerin black;The poacher socht him a harvest, Whaur the rinnin waves lie slack. The meen played tig wi the gloamin, Ben hidey-holes o pine,Whaur...

Haundit Doon

Granfaither. Neat-caimbed mowser. Fair the swell In yer Masonic apron. I've bin telt,Fin ye gaed on the spree,The anely thing left staunin wis the shelt.Aa weemin saften till a handsome body,...

The Guardian on the Return of Scots

As part of a series on what Scottish independence would mean, The Guardian carried an article about the return of the Scots language last Friday. The article mentions MSPs taking the oath in Scots...

Abyne Games

Noo — nae anither hurl on yon, I'm tellin ye — ca-cannie,Ye'd think the siller grew on trees! Oh — there's thon affa mannie;It's “Ye'll dae this,” an “Ye'll dae yon”: (He's jist a perfeck...

Twa Chiels

ChaeTam luiked at Chae, an saw a gype ... Bit Jock said,"Na — he's shy,He's eeseless, harmless, scuttery, Bit och, it's jist his wye.”Jean luiked at Chae, an thocht him dreich, Nae tuned fur...

Auld Will

Half-seas-ower wis his hooseLike a dreep on the drap,A tummelt-doon dykeWi a lum at its tap.There wis stew on the mantlepieceStrae on the rugAn the lino wis near as moth-etten's the dug.Its...

The Cuckoo Clock

Miss Hardie grippit inno a flooery peenie,The stoor o her chalk gaun screichin in pluffs o virr, Wi the chuffie-cheeks o a post-war Mussolini, Kept 40 bairns in a state o perpetual birr.A gran an...

A Dauner Ben Eden

The Tree o LifeThrough sna an sun the spurgies cheep. Hame-haudin birds their flicht is sma An ay a cheery ootluik keep,Their plain concerns a watergaw.Wing heicher up the Tree o LifeThe corbie,...

Kennin

Fin asked, fit is a yeitie?Ane wid describe its class, t'ither, its mak Its station in the hierarchy o birds, Its dietary fads, an reproduction. Nae me; a yalla yeitie's soun,A simmer cheepin in...

Heelstergowdie

On the heidy bield o the hill, Sib tae the glaissy starns, Catchin their shine in yer haun(Thon brukken spars o Infinity)Ye staun, fishin the lift For the eident meen:An ant, assumin a mantle o...

Dwaum

Fur William BlakeWhaun day's a closin curtain, Sun's a slippin band o reid, Ilkie flooer's a snibbit petal, Ilkie bird's a happit heid,Syne silence, in a stately goun, Walks siller-grey on green,...

Phoenix

A misanthropic meenister. A black shag. His pulpit-pouer bigged heich On a Satanic crag.I coored frae his goun that flapped, Wide as the wings o Hell,A pinioned, fledglin bairn. Bumbazed, on...

Phantasmagoria

for J.D.Gomersall]The ghaistly dancers starred abeen The crescent o the sickle meen, Slide sounless roun a seamless cave, Swingin their lanterns ower the lave.Flickerin patterns on a waa,Ilk...

From “Le Roman Inacheve”, Love which is not a word

by Louis Aragon, freely reset in Scots. Fur Rene Magritte.Ye fan me, like a stane scrauned frae the shore, Like a tint, fremmit ferlie, o unkent design, Like dulse on a sextent, scaled frae the...

Bairn Rhyme

for Morag The owl's a hoot — his lugs cock oot The gull's umbrella fittit.The coo's a coat-rack on his broo The yowie's back is knittit.The yirdy wirm is back tae front His twa weet snoots are...

The Gorblie

for Ross"Pit yer finger in the gorblie's hole, the gorblie's nae at hameHe's roon the back o the hen hoose, pykin an auld deid hen" Trad. Ye ken, yon's a jibber o havers.He's NIVER far ye wad...

The Corbie

He draps frae the dyke, a sweengin gibbetRaxxin his warlock's duds. His weird, misshapen clooks Gang wigglety-wagglety ower the girse. Untender.A render o deid flesh, he'd pyke the een frae a...

Jumbo

A humphy skyscraper, the jumboSkushles along like a lan'-locked, pensioned tar; A showdie Titanic, trailin His tooshtie o tail ahin, like a bargee's towe. Grounded, yon cargo o' guffs, Yon...

Phobias

Fin rattens chitter ahin the door Drookit an clorty, sleekit forby, Reeshlin aroon the fit o yer bed, Far'll ye fly?Fin the neuks are hotchin abeen yer heid, Wi spiders deistin doon till yer...

Deid Hawk

Twa worm-bored holesChunnerin maggots, pykin a daylicht path in the hunter's een    A secunt sicht, its riven waas, ant brewinGuffs o rot as great as its lang faBringer o Daith, levelled till...

The Rites o Hairst

The winter howe's a hermit. A pious note or twa, Faas, frae the chaste fingers o a yew.Black upon fite, convents o birksIncant their beads o snaw in nun-like silence. Spring's barfit...

Leaf

Tak ae wee leaf. A' piper o thin notesIn ony back-green symphony,Its widlan warld, thirled tae the hum o leevin.Vibrancy o rain (surely it wad reca) aince glimmered alang its stem. Yet, in...

Village Shop

There's bagfus o kinnlin, there's kebbucks o cheese There's pirls o ingins, doonhingin in queues Bit the chiel in command wi the dark dungarees Wints a boorich o blethers, a nippick o news.The...

Land

Dark druids, the meenlicht corn Wi'ts myriad een; the peeled Blades o its leaves, fite hauns That's linked in a queer ceremony. Forgotton secret, lost in the Black, black grun,That lies, as auld...

Prodigal

Kenspeckle craiturs, the fairm-dyeuk's eggs Keepit thir ain shells An thirsels tae thirsels. The foremaist flew aff in a cloud o stoor Ower steadin an meen — the darin' een.The lave, on a tichter...

Dawn an Gloam

Dawn steers, half-drooned in sleep, droggit wi dwaumin. Dreams link hauns an flee, nicht-thistledown,Blawn, bi the lip o waukfulness. Shaddae-thochts wither awa Like frichtit fawns.The dawn's a...

Sufi Oor-glaiss

Time is a Bedouin, reengin the lanCupped frae the desert, the gangrel o san Teems, sweengin her skirts in a birlin o broon A burnie o meenits, gaun whummlin doonA jimp-wasted glaiss ye may cowp in...

Lorimer’s translation, 'a complete vindication of Scots'.

In this article, first published in the Leopard, Derrick McCure discusses W L Lorimer's Scots translation of the New Testament.  We are grateful to Derrick McClure and Lindy Cheyne of the Leopard...

Buik-Learnin

"A dominie, lass, is a man amang loons Nae denyin ye that — Bit a loon amang men.The craiturs are aa verra weel —Bit fit div they ken aboot calvin, or hyowin, Or onythin' eese?Thon oot-lyin parks,...

Intercity

Deil the skirp o burn or loch Embankments, heich an hilly. Dashin by, a streek o rock Dykes an Wanderin Willie, Sookit hard's a pandrop Swallaed bi a tunnelDark's a mowdie's drainpipe Black's a...

Unicorn in Union Street

The bigsie cooshie doos, vauntie as cooncillors, Strut i' the sun, atap their quarried Parthenon. Splay-fitted dyeuks, sploosh i' the Duthie Park In wellington-weet.Bit I delicht in half-licht, in...

Gallery

Catched concepts, caged ahin glaiss.Studies in style, pernickity or freak.Fikey perjink, bi mammoth-monumental. Ilkie ain unique. Sic eloquent quate! Nae communal contention!Flamingo-pink, a...

Nor' Sea

A rim o unhapt, drooned, unhaly, things, The beach bubbles dereliction.A brukken fish box floats,Affcast frae nets.Oot a place, oot o jointArticles, wha've tint their anchor Nae pointO'...

Last Tango in Aiberdeen

"Are ye dancing?"Torry rock, an Bon-Accordion jive.Queen B. o the hive."Na. It's jist the wye I'm staunin."The raws o wallflooers wilted,Batted petal-een o scunner an mascaraFashioned tae be...

Across a Crowded Room

after Botticelli's Primavera "Yer weirin yon glekit luik," quo ma pal. "Like ye've won the pools. Lettin yer thochts hing oot. Face rearranged like a Braque. This is the granite city. Stiff upper...

Twa Limmers

Tantalus War he a reed, she'd rax tae be his bowThe reeshlin, randy strae, she'd stap the manger War he a stag, she'd be the hummel doe An wi him, thole the brunt o ony dangerA Springtime...

Sunday Service

Twa peaks o' prayer, Kate Wabster's hauns are pyntit Her heid's held heich — bit the blessin o' God is tint An fa'd hae thocht, as ane o the Lord's annointed She'd tyne her sense, fur a chief she...

Bitter Sweet

Ye think the sun should shine as day? It widna please the gairdeners!An gin the rain ding doon the hay It fair dismays the fairmers.The snoddest rose will job yer thoomb, The aipple rot, an...

Litter o' Love

They neither winted fur claes, nur care Nur a piece fur the playtime bell Fowks quick tae gie, an slow tae blame(Far there's nocht tae blacken their ain guid name) Kennin the wye things sat at...

Sugar 'n' Spice

Hid yon guid wirds been writ fur me,“Turn ye the ither cheek”Thole twa black een, far wan wid dee. God wid hae made me meek.Sugar 'n' Spice an aathing nice?Na — bit a hill-cat's spitAn the...

Eve and Oedipus

He'd wed an enchantress — she'd turned a mishanter His sack, niver laundered, nae thocht till his care The bane o contention, his first love, byordnar Her shadow cast lang ower the ill-greein...

Granny's Pet

His seeven lives rin oot thrice ower. He's swack's a kittlin-breenge an bob. As weel he micht — my gleyin glower's A kettle, hotterin on the hob.Aince bile, an it's a clippin cloor Bit granny...

Blin Robin

A hallyrackit billie, galluses agley Roch-chinned; ye'd crack a spunk Upon the stibble(Twa days growth forby).A weel-worn chielIt seemed as thoughHe'd seen it as    dane it as Stramashes — booze —...

Joseph Gillanders

Joseph Gillanders, o a siccar raceHim, o the rovin haun, an rovin eeO passions kept a brace.Love o a comely queat, an a fat bawbeeAn whaur his brethern culled a single bloom Joseph Gillander's...

North East Neuk

For the late Dr. Cuthbert GrahamCorn maun be gaithered, sortit, stookit snod Unbiggit sheaves will niver cam tae ocht Tae showder, wullinly, anither's loadHandsel a hairst o wirds, wide-reengin...

Mither Tongue

Fit's a whigmaleerie?Dinna speir at me!Them that speirs nae questions, Arena telt a lee!Fit's a stammygaster?Fegs, ye dinna ken?Ye've as little on yer tongue's The teeth upon a hen!Fit's...

Meditation Nummer Ane

fur Ian ScorgieI drew frae the conjuror's hat A whylie's silence.Through the stage-door trap,I drapt, in unencumbered solitude Doon, in a well o' quietudeThe wheels unfurl yonderThe cardboord...

The Pearl

The pearl's a frozen shard o skaith, The ovum, in the oyster reest, A glimmerin orb o clammy daith, Pierced canker, in a rendrin breist.Cauld gem, the wastrel ocean's bairnO aa the ferlies kent on...

Archaeologist

Ah'm an archaeologist.Ah open tombs. Dream dreams. Ficherin with the jigsawO ma ain past,Ah've managed tae drap it; An illusion, in smithereens.Ithers get the sarcophagus.Ah get the curse.Ony...

Reflections

The timmer-heided tree,Dis it consider the skirp o growth, The Adam bud o its reet?Raxxed till the complexity o a twig;Dis it fear the, rot that hungers fur its fa?An wid it murn, aince yearly,The...

Strathbogie Spring

As I gaed doon b' Huntly toun I heard a cushie wheeple,A hummel doo, her cutty goun Wis hamely as her threeple."I anely sik a bittie corn A sma thing, tae be speirin. An fa wad gie a bird the...

Time Lords

Written late evening, Glen MuickTwa ferlies frae a torn poochThat fortunes winna save — Drap man an woman — coins o chanceThe derk loch claims them baith.Aa tyauve, achievement, sweetness,...

Patterns of Life

A bigsie chiel, o sma accoont,Liftit his heid ae dayAn frae the verra founs o ignorance, bespak That aa aroon, stars, sun, an warldWis some cosmic mishanter, a celestial mistak. Nae mishanter...

Visitors

Car-loads o scunners on the haik,Brigades o' Sabbath swanks,Troosers pressed hard as tramlines Thick-skinned, as Kaiser's tanks."Visitors," quo granny, "Are like fish.Kept ower lang, they...

Strangers, tak tent

Bog slumbers deep; aince breech the skin, ye'll sink. Wauk circumspect, we arena surface fowk,Spreadin wir braws fur ony gangrel tinkRaxxin wir mou', tae gibber wi a gowk.We keep a cannie clutch,...

Responsible

The aik wis michty, Samson-strang. The girnin Ivy crept alang Furlin aroon lik bough an bark Wyvin the aik a secunt sark,She speired an socht, "Look efter me!" Sookin the guidness frae yon...

Seed-Cycle

Frae seed tae bud, an hinmaist, seed again As in its prime, the blossom croons the stem Sae, in yon flooer's yirdly spanWe see the pattern o a man.I think it is the hardest thing o aa,Tae watch...

The Dall

The dall, since glen tae me Wis jeelin as dule.Wis't a gift, or a toolA likeness o whit quines sud be?Fit weird a lassie maun dree? Fyeuchie's a wirm, Fooshionless, blae, still-born Wis the dall...

Puppeteer

I liked tae pu the towes. Gar things lowp till a set threid O fancy, as ma ain devisin. Nae Punch and Judy styte. Na; high-falutin stuff. Lear, Montrose, John Knox ... Smilin as I pit them through...

Heilan Games

Anither Games. It trysts them back Like salmon up the burn — The glen fowk, the Ben fowk, sae thick ye canna turn Fur frienly Celtic bourichies; the faimlies intertwine An ay the ripple throw the...

Generation Gap

for MorvenModern bairns are additive stappit Niacin, protein, vitamin CGie them brose — they winna takk it Yoghurt, yak's-dirt MuesliModern bairns gie shears the go-by Spike hair, pink's a soo's...

The Granary

Seeven crouse years in Pharoah's lan The craps grew swete an green.Seeven coorse years in Pharoah's lan The hairstin rigs stude teem.Feint the reeshle o a grainFeint the corn tae gleanSeeven green...

Celestial Discourse

Lord,Fyle the sermon wyes yer wecht in wirdies,(The lave, heids-booed, sit stinch, on dottlit hurdies) WID YE HEAR, Omnipotence, fa plenished the sea GIN I SPEIR (presumptious tho it be)Ae...

Holy Willies

Heroes ye niver hear oGlower, mealie-mooed an beetle-brooed At Ne'er dae weels,Tow-rags, flee-ups, an ither gallus chiefs Fa mak a cheery kirk or mill o' Life, An sweeten't wi a lassie, or a...

Incommunicado

I stopped tae spik wi Wattie Spence, He wis a moosie, gaitherin corn.His hale confab, wis pounds an pence The nest, he'd feather-bed the morn.I stopped tae spik wi John McBride He cheeped...

Eurydice

I am telt, Eurydice, that ghaists maun be laid.That the heidstane maun slide on the lid o the past. That worritin auld banes, is an unhalesome pastime The last luik o ye, quine.Maun be jist yon —...

Twa Ferlies

Aince, I wis gaen twa ferlies, a keepsake an a toy. The keepsake wis a vase o sic a purityIt mirrored aathin, heicht, an depth, an licht; Greedy fur images, it sooked them inTae its reflective...

The Boundless Sea

for J.D. GomersallAn ill-yokt pair is merriment an' dule Ane's trottin trig, the tither rugs the load Heid-doon, slaw fittit, foonert in the glaur The tichtenin bit, gyan deep as ony goad.Ye grip...

Crockery in Confab

A puckle affcast crockery wid news,Jined b' Adversity, grown fell compatible, Voicin their sair predicament, their views Set doon their worries, cairds upon the table.The trimmlin tea cup only...

Twa Roads till an End

There comes a time, at the dour back end Fin the craps are in an storedThe birds flee gyte, fur the Winter's bite's On a lan, far the growth lies smored. A fairmer traivels his ain bit grun — It's...

Room fur Remembrance

Sma fire, sma-boukit fairmer. A collie, yoamin o damp fir Its een, twa blaik dowsed coals, lies sprauchled ahin the door. Ootbye's an aipple tree, rypit o its fruit.This room, aince stoot's a...

A Gibbon on Evolution

In the monkey hoose, a gibbon, orang-ootang, an baboon, War sociably flechin, fin a veesitor walked roonA scientist. He claiked aboot the origins o man On reets an evolution ... foo humanity began...

Ulysses

Neist time that yer menfowk are late winnin hame Spare a thocht fur Penelope, sittin her lane Fur twenty lang year, in byordnar ill teenRehearsin ae question ... "Jist far hiv ye been?" He hummed,...

True Tammas

True Tammas lay on Huntly bank Bi tribulations herriet;Fur seeven years lang, this mortal man Upon a fey, wis merriet.Fit wis the gift she gied tae him, Her lover's gift, in pairtin'? A tongue...

The Pudden

A haggis an a thistle-shank, began a disputation,On fa'd be best ambassador, tae serve the Scottish nation The haggis wisna blate tae spik — (the belly o a sheep, a win' — bag cornucopia, sets...

Gowd

Charles Middleton born Aboyne 1907, died Aberdeen 1988        Dwined till a dwaum yon moss-green kindly een,    His sang that raise as a shoutFin his warld wis young, crined till a myowt    Late,...

Hairst-Heirskip

The baler rummles the strae Tirred, til a tousie oxterfu Bricht bourichs on the brae.Caff flees in gowden styewAs the bales dunt on the parkIn the hash an fash tae be throw Er the mochy glimmer o...

Viva Aiberdeen!

Lovers cuddlin bi the sea ... Yon wid melt a slider:Fit's yen paiddlin in ma tea? Gyad! A muckle spider:Neive wi posies o ice cream Cones wi chocolate, tappit,Wi a beam as braid's yon deem, I wad...

Muir o Dinnet

Hard bi the heath, the loch-fowk lie In the raxxin reeds far peesies cryAn the Culblean braes that ran wi reid Saw clash o arms,o the nameless deid Sit deuce and snod,A brimmin bowl o hedder...

The Roup

The auctioneer held haimmer ower a bid; Heistin his eyebroos heich, as if tae speir Fit price a lifetime's hairst,ingaithered? The blatterin win rattled the hard-won gear.Aince, thon braes stude...

Carn-na-Cuimhne

(Muster cairn of Clan Farquharson.)For Captain A.A.C. Farquharson,sixteenth chief of Clan Fhionnlaidh, and his wife FrancesWhaur sun's a blin an a blearie eeA well o licht, in a gurly seaAn the...

A Stane by the Allt Darrarie, Spittal o Glen Muick

Bonnie muirlan stane, Egg nestled on the grun, A tear-drap neth the air, Salmon-speckled cone, Rarer nor ony pearl, Gin I cud unsteek ye, Keek at yer core,Whit ferlies wid be there?Born o win an...

Sna

A silent sameness, happt wi caul,The sna devours the lan wi nae devaul. Maks mockerie o milestanes,Soun faas thin. I like the sna,Nae tracks that bideAe shift o the winAn aa's creation — cleanAs a...

Fir Wid

for Jessie KessonI like tae lie deep doonIn a Scots fir wid.It disna sook nor clingIt's a phalanx o sword,Wi adequate room fur manoeuvreIn the resin kingdom, A fir is dragon-green It is honed tae...

Palette

Reid.Hips an haws.Hairt's bluid. Blue.Forget-me-not,Rue.Yalla.Coordy, gay.Breem spray. Green.Meevin girse.Black. Grievin, hearse.Broon.Peat burn, whummlin doon.Purple. Heather, thyme.Thon's mine!

The Yird an the Meen

For Dr Danny Gordon, Inverurie, Bennachie Baillie.She stude, a mystic mirror, A vauntie, siller queenThe barren mistress o the derk The prood an preenin meen.Alang the nicht, her moonbeams sped,...

Winter Burial, Tullich

Wummin, licht, warmth.Aa are a birth token. Dowie, the derksome hills. Mither Eird lies open,Ugsome as a wound.The cycle o life is brukken. Winter furls eldritch, aroon.A kinsman's airm, steadies...

Of Travel

Fureign destinations are fur fowk fa likes tae raikTae me, they're bit the harrigals — the puddens o a haikYet, set me doon b' Lochnagar, or twenty miles aroonIt's as though I'd tint a bawbee,...

The Swick

For Dr. & Mrs L.K.Dawson, Skene If there be ain fa canna see The beauty o the NorthFa canna hear the soundin geese That cry his fitsteps forth, He maun be blin — an deef, forby, A kiln o crackit...

Ballater Bairnhood

A pictur, bricht on the broo,O cantie streets, in the hap o a caller glen. Trig biggins, kirk, an green,A birn fur shops, stappit wi Celtic braws The warld steered throw, an ben.Nichtly, a...

The Lecht

Wis there iver sic a road as thon? The planner maun been fouIt dings yer pech intil yer pooch Yer hairt intil yer mou.Divil's Elbow? Divil's Oxter!It's a rhyme wi'oot a ruleIt's a humfy-backit...

Gangrel's Sang

At nicht fin the bairns are bedded doon The hash o the day set byI clim the stairs, as a wife maun dee An lie, far a wife maun lie.Twa sleepers, close as braith itsel Rowed in the linen fineHis...

Embro Toun

For Tom HubbardSalt on yer tail — she's a hotterin stew O the kent, the fremmit, the auld, the new The cassie-claik o the Embro hures Rikkin an rerr as Turkish flooers Fur coat frills on a bare...

Rab Wilson - Tradition of Scots language

BBC Scotland has produced a range of new Scots language resources. Check them out at the BBC Learning Zone.

Heilan Toast

For the members of the Deeside Field ClubSome pledge a health wi usquebaughAn ithers, wi the wine. I'd mairry malt an watterTae drink tae thee, an thine. An wi the fire, I'd wed the ice Jine wi...

Sea-Sang

For J.D.Gomersall. Burn, a mountain teems brak-neck, Nerra mill-lade, breengin beck, Ilk an ivry tribut'ry, Sikks the sea's simplicity. Inby oceans, aa is ane Skaith an tribble's dished, an...

The Win

For Brian & Mary Wright, Prony Farm,Glen Gairn.The win that shaks the trees this nicht Brings comfort in its lee,I ken it's roved by dark Ben A'nAnd skimmed the waves o Dee.It cairries hinny, in...

Vanishing Aberdeen

Fin I wis wee,I chased the seaI catched it, syne it drookit me!It made me cannie, hardy, thrawn, In short, an Aiberdonian!

Watter

For Charles & Vera King.Gin wirds war watter, Oh the ploys I'd try!I'd dook me, dyeuk-delichtfu,Drookit in puils o the things!Guddle fur oors,Doonin a fyew wee drams o the real Mackay. Oh ay, I...

Linn o Quoich

For Mrs James Forbes, The Square, Tarland.War I a stane at Linn o Quoich, I'd rule like ony queen.The velvet win wad mantle me, The bonnie birk sae green, An fur my Royal vanities,The frost wad...

The Ain that Got Awa

For the members of the Charles Murray Memorial TrustFin fishy tales wir bandied, he wis keepit in his neukFor feint the fish he'd guddled, or inveiglet on his hyeuk. Bit fowk got a stammygaster,...

The Tryst

I met Anither, b' the burnie's rim,A bairn, wi violets dauncin in her eenAn lauchter reamin there … sic joyAs airches like a wattergaw, ben quate puilsPuin the antrin buttercup, she wis, tae kep...

Dookin

Delicht taks mony forms,Yet dookin in watter's the Prince o the gowden keys. The troot in me splurges gledsome,Breengin up, in a Halloween o a bleezeO pleisur, warm as a sun-bolt,Piercin the...

Adder

Meetin the warld wi a fleerish,Ye are ...A monkish illuminationA hotterin, Hecate hissA blaik italic scroll.A rigmaroleAs lang as a swippert Ganges,A Tiber, Euphrates,A san-slidderin, nerra Nile.A...

Leaf

Tak ae wee leaf. A piper o thin notesIn ony back-green symphony,Its widlan warld, thirled tae the hum o leevin. Vibrancy o rain(Surely it wid reca)Aince glimmered alang its stem. Yet, in...

Van Gogh

Sunlicht kens nae boundsNur yet the win, the ticht grip o haudin.Nae tetherin the towes o fancy That can slip reality As quick as simmer rain.The yird may bindYon eident fingers,Mount its graissy...

For Joseph Farquharson, RA Laird of Finzean

An whau gaed ye the power, man? An whau gaed ye the airt?Tae catch the lowe o gloamin? Tae brak a body's hairt?Whaur did ye learn, tae paint the win The sab, o Autumn nicht?The eildrich mists o...

At the Gallery — Aberdeen Artist's 52nd Exhibition

Raws o windaes, picturs.Framed thocht,Spotlichts umpteen interiors. Etchins are perjink, Best-tie-an-dickie, Cannily vrocht. Action-stopper! Kamikazi colour Hollers a hulloo. There's a swatch o...

Psychiatrist

“Learn my mind … show me yours. Then go and say that you met me. Let us try each other. If I have a wrong principle, rid me of it; if you have, out with it.”Epictetus Cam richt oot wi't."Stop...

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...

Touch

Fingerens dreepit in rain, clay, dubs,(Yon primal mellin o yird an watter)It's jeelin, creatin a feelinIn mouldable dust ... mair eloquent, vital, potent Nor an air-bubble burst o wird ...Foo...

Instinct

The umbilical cord's nae cut, Bit,Nuzzlin, guzzlin, sookinPure, warm, soothin pleisurThe new-born kens the richt road Natural as breathin.A grippit pencil Fittit.Seemed my fingers war Fashioned...

Air Raid Shelter

At the siren's wail,At the first sign o trouble,Ah dinnae rin for an air raid shelter.Ah'm nae an ostrich, Nae sand here,Could ye nae jist pictir an ostrich,Wi' a dubby heid?At the siren's wail,At...

Buts an Bens

Louis Aragon died on Christmas Eve, 1982, aged 85.“Buts an Bens” is a resetting in Scots of his poem, “Les Chambres” (1969) Aa the rooms o ma lifeWull hae thrappled me wi their waas.Yonder, the...

The Open Yett

For the members o the Scots Language SocietyThere's a yett that aye bides open, There's a gean that's iver green, There's a gledsome cup that's brimmin, Tho aathing else be teem;There's a far, far...

Doric

For Robbie ShepherdSaft, Suddron spik, that iles the converse O a fremmit lanWill ay be the rib o Cain Tae the stinch, roch wirds Quarried frae centuries, we ain. Smeddum's a wird'll tholeThin...

Secunt Birth

Weel-faird as a fresco bi Raphael, “Madonna and Son” A bonnielike basket, bucklet thegither,A buckie, sookin the pap o the boun'less sea Man-babe, an its mither. She wis his meal an ale, His...

Nancy Whisky

Tears staun thistle-jobby, in his een. Ae dunt wad shak them doon, A mill-lade, brakken;The dam-rush efter the drooth. Dinna deny the chiel his feelins! They're a hunner per cent proof! Vauntie's...

Ma Dearie

Gien her aathin.Best years o ma life. Cooker, fridge, TV. Indoor lavvy.Niver bashed her aince, In siller or skint.Fit mair cud a wummin wint?Doon the boozer, Ah'm Action manWi a ring-pull can....

Delinquent's Sang

I am o Clootie's kin,I am the rib o Cain.I gaed tae ma mither fur breid, Fur breid, an she gied me a stane.I am the scud and the skelp,The heid bang, the snot on the face.I am the slash. I'm the...

Bride

Seed, brierin, growth. Syne comes the hairst.The corn afore the scythe's a bride,A rowan blossom, in a man's lapelShakkin the bough, he pu's the flooer itsel.Toasts teemed, an blessins said,...

Canute

Auld age an dalliance are ill begun. Nae teuchit I, bit teuchsome coq au vinGin ye wid grip a tiger bi the tail Mak sure it disna turn an ett ye hale."Gae back, gae back" quo I, wi thrawness...

Tak Tent

Tak tent!Houghmagandie's addictive ...The stoon, o a stob, The tidal sook, o a Fingal's cave, agog. Lichtnin, forkin a cloud, Horn, beeriet in bog,Pestle, thuddit in mortar,A noose, thrapplin a...

Hauns

Turn the peat Mask the teaDicht the greetFrae a bairnie's ee.Kepp the kyeShear the sheep Sell an buySow an reapHack the coalFae the pit heid waa.Lay the straeIn the stirkie's staaPreen an darn...

Side-Show

Shelts pirouette their peintit timer hooves Like widden-dreams, in weel-accustomed grooves. A circlin dwaum o skyrie speed they furl, Wud deevilicks, weird dervishes, they birl, Reid agin derk …...

The Seasons' Soiree

Spring wis a wallfloor — she sat in a neuk, Ower young fur the ithers tae heed A skin like a peach — wi the antrin plook, A book, naebody winted tae read.Simmer wis plottin, fair pechin wi swat...

Bird's Eye View

For the Buchan Heritage SocietyGin ye pit knowledge in a tree, Ye'd fairly fire the thicket! Fit shelter wad a willow gie, Familiarised wi' cricket? Wi' a degree in forestry, The wid wad stump the...

As Ithers See Us

Peat-broon, a wing-beat Drappin alang avenues o air Lichtsome as thistle-web,A pulse o dauchled pouer,The eagle commandeers wir awed attention.(His eyrie, sticks an banes Ower-strewn wi chittered...

The Cricket an the Ant

For Phyllis Goodall & the members of the Banffshire Field Club I ken a chiel wha's pleisur's a straucht furrow, A trig byre, a fat beast,A weel-aired semmit on a Setturday nicht, A guid-gyan...

The Unca Guid

There wis a calvinistic cat Sat snod, in sabbath braws He dainty dined on spurgies Bit coored awa frae craws. A veritable paragon,His clooks wis lang an sure At powkin fallen carrion, The godless...

Sit Siccars

Sit siccars hae a spik — a place fur aathin, aathin in its place. A puir ootluik, o sma gumption.Nae fur me the tyke that coors frae its ain gurl.Raither, the bikk that tackles the hurly burlO...

Guid an Evil

Fower-feet patterin the futterat rins,Lowpin ark, wi a sickle's sheen Coorse quick killer, ahin the whins Een half-gyte, an a hairt o steen.Soft an creashie, the doo wings doon Mild as milk, an as...

Eve

Bird o Paradise,Spirk o Original sin,An efterthocht. A rib o the yird Rowed up in a cutty claith, A wanton, a limmer,The hurly-gush o the river's Nae fur ye.Strae-dallie, a peach, a leech, Ye're...

Nicht Visitor

Weird as a warlock's curse, the nicht Maister, may I gyang hame? Ah, bit the reeds they grip me ticht. Cauld is the watter's wame! It's I wad keep a lover's tryst Far mist an lochan mellI pledge...

Nicht Drivin

The hierarchy o metal, far newest is best, A grandiose Gran-Prix stooshie O winner-taks-aa,His ayewis, a deid-en Honda, A black Avenger.A Jaguar purrs at a Lotus Elite Bummin, replete wi the heidy...

Coal

Fossils o muckle beasts That gart trees styter, That walked the warldIn a sypin sweel o plyter,Their scrauchin, like their girth, Gargantuan, Lie obsolete, in the ribs O a lang-lummed, yirdy...

Lue Thy Neibour

Love Thy Neighbour, to Jean Rousselot, by Max Jacob (1876-1944) Max Jacob was an associate of Apollinaire and Picasso. He died in a concentration camp. The English translation appeared in MPT 2,...

Alice in Wonderland in Scots

Long standing enthusiast for all things Scots and one-time volunteer at the Scots Language Centre, Sandy Fleming, has translated Lewis Caroll’s famous and ever popular Alice’s adventures in...

The Hoast

A kittlie hoast can be a sair dement,As if ye'd chokkit on a kirn o thistles. The win gaes rochlin roon aboot yer chestFor a the ward like a kist o whussles.Ah, this damnt climate can be coorse...

Postman's Knock

Here comes Hermes. The rain's stottin aff his hat.His wings are pooched, or happit neth his breeks.A herald wi a hoast.Nae main gallavantin ben the clouds. The van's the thing fur post. A dog's...

Christmas Blues

Chap the tatties, bree the neeps, Gie the broth a steer,Dicht the bairnie's faces,Christmas denner's here!Clootie dumplin in the pan,Hotterin up an doon,Fairy lichts gyang “Plunk” again! Haun the...

The Heiress

A hoose is a byre, gin the mistress be roch Wi mainners an habits tae scunner a tink, Far etiquette's wintin — a table's a troch Bit nae wi Jean Foubister — she wis perjink.She'd the cream o...

Lang-Legged Tam

A hudderie-heidit, tattie-bogle tyke Wis lang-legged, whusslin Tam,The bik aye bowfin at his back,Herdin his black-faced yowesAn the muckle ram.Drivin his hung-tee tractor(He caa'd it a hotterin...

Laik-Waik Lament

For my father.A worn, ferfochan eagle,Dinged, ooto the lift,His neive, a fierce clook, clawin, Hungersome, fur the derkMoo, steek't, een, snibbit. Cauld's A midnicht tarn,Strang, in contempt fur...

For George Bruce

Curly the wave, that's gray wi the grue o storm, Eastlin the win, frae the mirlygo, blae Nor' Sea, O'erswack the faem, Fauvist in virr, in form Rattlin fou wi the touzlet ocean's bree!Gleg is the...

Jean; Buchan Ward, Cornhill

A doo, plunked in a dooket, Jean cud beOny young mither, hashin the bairns tae schule Bletherin on-gauns ower a cup o teaAboot her Joe or Harry, Dauvit, Frank or Sam, Until her bonnie mou (framed...

Nae Boundarie

“Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.And the selfsame well from which your laughter risesWas oftentimes filled with your tears.And how else can it be?”     Kahlil Gibran.Hinney is hedder, bizz is bee...

Haud Gaun

“A monk once went to Gensha, and wanted to learn where the entrance to the path of truth was. Gensha asked him, 'Do you hear the murmuring of the brook?' 'Yes, I hearit,' answered the monk. 'There...

Ninety

for Dr Danny Gordon, Bennachie BaillieRoon the rigs o Bennachie They caa a spaad a spaad Silk purses may be fancifu Soo's lugs dinna blaadTen year aff the century Ither blossoms faaDanny stauns as...

Overheard at the Synod

for the late Rev James Wood "Yon's Jeems awa. At echty-twaTwa-fauld in darg an deed.""Didna ye ken the Herd o MenIs blate tae cull the guid?""Jeems keepit braw the stirkie's staa A chiel baith...

Bydand

Raised wi a kiss an a shillin“The cock o the north's” their craw Mony's the loun fae a North East toun Jyned them, tae fecht an faaFor a better warld at YpresFar the bluid-reid poppy's blaw.The...

Last Rites

A dowie day, o win an derkA day as cauldrife as the meenI glisked a yowie, fite an sterkThat hoodie craws gaed flap abeen Dinged doon bi Fate, yon deuk o Daith The antrin peck ay drummed her side...

The Dog o the Midden

"The dog o the midden, he lay, he lay The dog o the midden, he lay he layHe luikit abeen him, an saw the meen shinin He cockt his tail an away away" Bairn rhyme collected by Charles Middleton,...

Mister McCafferty

The McCafferty's en' hoose fairly hums Wi a pit bull terrier barin its gums Mister McCafferty signs on the brooThen it's intae the pub tae get ram-stam-fu Knee-heich tae a chunty on bowdy legs He...

Donna

Donna Buchan ... it 's disco time Clart the lipstick onno yer moo Skyte deod'rant up yer oxtersBig Jock's gaun. Will he ask ye hame? Coort ye roon the back o the chippy? Kinnel yer caunle intae a...

Kelpie

Wechtless in wafter I gallop A witch o a watter meerMa mane 's a-birl in the wave I paint the spray wi a door Ma flank is hinney-smooth Licht-fit's a deerI soom frae the salmon's caveTae the...

Nicht in the Biggin bi the Burn

Tu Fu (713-770) Gloamin sypes doon the Ben Tae the biggin ayont the dyke.Bi heich cavesThe licht clouds strikk their camp.The meen rowes ower i the wavesIn the quate at the dowp o a flicht o...

from Fighting on the South Frontier

Li Po (701-762) There's nae foun tae war.Ower the killin rigs, the sodgers warssle an deeTheir cuddies belloch their grue tae the liftHoodies an kites, reive the intimmers o menSyne takkin...

Gloamin

Fur Chang Chi an Chou K'uangHan Yu ( 768-824)The gloarnin dwines, the view teems:Hame frae a traivle, I sprauchle aneth the eavesLichtsome clouds are tooshts o ooAn the meen's a sherpened scythe.A...

The Poem

Frae ben the derk wellheid o waes The wirds like watter rainFur mony's the mither's bonnie bairn Is born wi rowth o painFrae derk tae licht soar siller thochts Like peesies wingin freeTill sudden,...

Christmas Grotto

St Nicholas Kirkyaird. Hiv ye nae heard? Santa's hereSlap in the hairt o the toun, he's yarkitHis gifties doon across frae WooliesFar's his reindeer parkit?St Nick, or Santie (Frien o bairns an...

Doric-Reggae-Spider-Rap

Zippin up an doon a stringA yo-yo daein the Heilan flingPit-mirk's ane o Dracula's dothersLegs in as the airtsLike an octopus's oxters Aa drapt stitchesYon's her wyvinEtts mochs n' midgies Wippit...

Single Parent

I am the boatie, tiller, captain, crew I navigate a roch, uncharted tide Bi galaxies wi starnies far an fyew Sherp-teethed razor-reefs on ilkie sideStreeked like a tent agin Sirocco's cloor A neuk...

Moose

Yawns like a crocodile Flechs like a tyke Etts like a duchess Wi a ficher an a fyke Weirs a model's bearskin Up till her snootDraps like an airman Wioot a parachute Intil a sugarbowl Suppin up the...

Evil

There is a shadda hauds tae ilkie shapeMen caa it Evil. Like an orra stainIts reets rin deep an wideIll-will, Ill-natur, skaith, aa o its bitter blooms The fear that chitters in the eildritch...

The Clunie Burn

Sweet reiver o the Simmer's gowdFa ryped the pheasant's broons & braws Her dimplin watters spirk & showd Like weety wauchts o wattergaws.The fite Scots roses crest her broo Her amber bluid's a...

Ripple

It furls, birls, an twinesA troot-lowp, wyvin a circle An OH that raxxes an dwines.

Dother

Sure o her reestShe glimmers. A precious ferlie, Preened in her faither's breist.

Reeds

Drumsticks, pammerin the deid mairch o war Reeds dird a laich lamentOn Winter's haar.

Waves

A slocken smile, scaled frae a burnie's mou Waves rowe the crib o SimmerSaft as oo.

The Hen's Fareweel tae the Midden

Tuck-tuck-tuck-tuck-TUCKY Scrat-scrat-scrattin in the styewWi ma sherp wee cleuksFur howin in the neuksI'm wytin in the kailyaird queue Fur seeds o bar-bar-BARLEYTae powk-powk-gobble-gobble-powk...

Gun

Awarded the Hugh MacDiarmid Tassie as best poem in the 1990 Scots Language Society Competition.A bluidied cloot syped on the kitchie fleer Clorty aneth the thrappled pheasant's dowp. The breet's...

Yalla

Yalla's a playschule sun on a bairn's pictur A budgie's poop o a colourSkrie's a fried eggA meenister wadna gie it a secant luikIt's the margarine clort we butter on public laavies Ye see it,...

Raggie Maggie

Raggie Maggie doon oor street's Got twa gley-een & pirn-taed feetGot sheen that wallop wide as flippers Tide-merks broon as toastit kippersHer shanks are thin as drinkin straas Her shins are...

Dole Q Blues

“First richt. Upstairs. Alang the corridor Collect yer ticketWyte yer turn. Staun in line.Fa ca'ad this Stalag 99?An the baa-heid duntin the bucket,I dinna inten tae 'fuck it' as ye suggest. If ye...

Gerbils

Een like preens Spurgies' beensTails as shargeret as tinned sardinesLowp lowp wallop gae the gerbil gangUp 'n' doon, up 'n' doonAa day lang.

The Bodach's Byre (Eventide Home)

Crined leaves frae crabbit treesAre the fowk i the bodach's byre .Some cannie kinsman, hearin the daith-watch beetle Speein the dry rot, the guff o disease Cried in the flittin van.Yarked awa the...

Charlie Chatts

Charlie Chatts, he milkit the cats And Gollachy made the cheese And Wee Willy Fite-BrikksFleggit Awa the bees.*The three o them bedd in a thummel Wi a pirn fur an automobileAn if ye believe fit...

Scotspeak

Scotspeak was first published by the SLC’s predecessor organisation, the Scots Language Resource Centre. It was hugely popular with actors and others who wanted to know what Scots and Scottish...

Autumn Nichtfaa

Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) On a wizzened tree-airm, A craw sattles.Autumn nichtfaa.

The Butterflee

Sora Abune the rigs o barley, Steekin them thegither, A butterflee.

Pairtin

BusonMe, gyangin Ye, bidin.Twa Autumns.

Heat-Haze

ShikiA simmer burn.Wioot a brigMa cuddy wauks throw watter

The Warld Tapsalteerie

OnitsuraA troot lowps heichAneth, in watter,Clouds sweem laich.

Kob Antelope

Resetting in Scots, from a translation from the Yoruba.A craitur tae pet, tae connachLike a bairn.Smeeth-coatit,Waukin cannie ben the yalla girseRoon an sonsieLike a new-wad wifeThe thrapple,...

Forth Rail Brig Centenary Poem

A hunner year … a hunner yearThe brig's ootflang its girdered girthA hunner year … a hunner yearGlimmerin strang abune the FirthHeich an sweir … heich an sweir Founs i the watter … heid i the...

The Queen o Bon Accord

Glint an glimmer, breenge an birl See the siller leddie furlSilken queen, sliddrin slawFar the briney billows blawGranite grey wir spires ariseBirn o muckle enterpriseThis, the toun that shares...

Omens

Frae Ceit Macinnes, cotter, Arisaig Weel tae the fore o a Monday foreneen, I lippent tae a lammie's loweAn the bairn-like scraich o a snipeFin dowdy dowped-doon, booed; An the blae, blae, gowk An...

Sun

Frae a bodach o 99 yrs, in the Sooth en o Sooth Uist The ee o the Michty God The ee o the God o glory The ee o the King o Hosts The ee o the King o the leevin Poorin ower's, at ilkie time an...

Gaelic Blessin

Deep peace o the rinnin wave tae yeDeep peace o the cushlin win tae yeDeep peace o the quaet yird tae yeDeep peace o the glimmrin starns tae ye Deep peace o the saftsome nicht tae yeMune an...

Alaneness

Rattens, rabbits, crawsMaun ay rin thrang thegither Biggit wi'in their makk's A need tae be a boorichBreets o the mellin breed.I dinna bide ower near tae ithers' brods Am sweir,...

The Stane

A stane stauns siccar in storm, Is Samson-strang in hail.Sud oor Scots leid o suddenty blossom gendersThis daud o Creation By Certes, wad be male.Maister Stane, I likeYer kirk-pew-plain physog Yer...

The Halflin's Joe

His hairt's an aipple ony Eve micht pu Gin I cud wyle fur him a quineI'd pyke him ain fa's kisses brimmed the mou Lang, swete, an slokin as the pearly dyew.Her spik wad be a madrigal o SpringShe'd...

Nicht

Lang clouds, like mort-claiths, blaik the lan Taed-blichtit nicht's as grim as daith Tongue-tackt as ony gowk, I staun Pitched forrit intae fear o skaith. A bony-shankit, crackit, birkThat...

Written Questions on Scottish Culture

This page collects written questions on Scottish culture that are not directly related to Scots language but may have a bearing on it. S4W-01514 Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive...

Corrichie

A widden giant, aixed, striddled the knowe Its muckle airms ootflang, reets riven oot Bi yestreen’s storm.Its heid, laigh i’ the stoor, smored amang girse Coddlit wi thrissle, seggs, an wummlin...

Hogmanay

A fite bleeze birls aroon the meen Blin drift, on lowrin seasWino an wabster toast an teem A twal-month tae the lees.The warld may heist a gledsome glaissTae hish the New Year hameBit oorie oorie...

Letter fae a Distressed Heidie

Dear Mrs McRae,Aboot yer Sam,I doot we’ve expelled the little lambHe birssled Miss Bruce wi a Bunsen burnerDrew fuskers ower a print bi Turner Aa throw Science he played his trannie Gied a “Glesga...

Rabbit

Fur an flesh since cleekit on yon hullA hinneypot, that predators pyked clean Shines blae’s a nyaakit egg, the shriven skull Dwines sterkly ben the jobby uplan girse. Obscene. Twa boss, teem,...

Forhooied

Hippen rowe, hippen rowe, hippen rowe the feeties o’t I niver kent I hid a bairn Until I heard the greeties o’t.* Gin luv war awye like the win Then naebody wad ken its wint Some lassies winna...

The Scottish Antisyzygy

Neivie neivie nick nackFit tongue’ll YE tak?Schule-Sassenach, or back-yaird Scots, Deep-reeted as the thrussle?Pit plainer … Heid or hairt?The forkit tongue o Scotia’s lion(Cleft frae the crib, wi...

Autumn

Blae, blae, blae, is the dwinin simmerFin craws are a squallich o midnicht i the liftThe win that knells the aik is an eildritch drummer Garrin the fleggit leaves uptail an shiftWylin the wing...

Maisie C: A Cautionary Tale

A halflin quine caad Maisie Cotter AY left her ferlies in a sotterHer fooshty socks, her orra duddies The verra drawers frae aff her hurdies In ilkie airt frae stead tae stairPlayed laldy wi the...

The Toun in Merch

Van Gogh, an honest Brueghel, peinterly Catched the wye the darg o howkin in the yird Makks dubs o fowk amang the peasantry Roch neive an lirkit broo’s,Anely reward frae the styewO dingin wealth...

Still Life

“Dinna deave a mither hamster,Sooklin her young” ma bairnie’s pet buik said. Bit Teenie, warm’s a bosieCuddly-cosie, Bambi-broonSae roly-poly teddy-beary saft as eiderdoon We trysted, frae her...

Ballad

Rock-a-by-lily the watter is deepBinorie, binorie, ah, fain wad I sleepRing-ring-a-rosies, the corn weirs a crounThe reaper strides forrit … an aa tummles doon.I glimsked in the cradle — a viper...

Hauns

Swack’s a puddock’s lowp, a bairn’s haun needs nae needle Tae threid it a chyne o violetsSnippin in twa a boorich o primadonnasSnod hi a raw.A bairn’s neive, is a butterflee wi a biteIt’ll swype...

Rugged Rascal

Roon an roon the rugged rucks  The rugged rascal ran *The hoodie craw let oot a caw Syne daunced a hoolichanHe wadna bide wi bawdrons Nor puddock, sharny-green He lowpit ower the lang rigs An...

Dentist

Open wide. Fit a view!Waur nor luikin doon a bugs’ H.Q. This set o teeths’ like extinct volcanoes Aa the hues o a palettefu o rainbows Chocolate, aniseed, peppermint, bananas Mair dirt there than...

Cooper & Hay

Cannie AiberdonianObleeged tae gyang tae law Oxter deep in taiglesPlagued bi ithers’ jawEager tae unraivelRoups, deeds, wills anaHie ye tae the mids o tounAa screeds o hoose an haYe’ll convey tae...

Mark Thomson - His writing

In the autumn of 2010, the Scots Language Centre visited Mark Thomson and discussed his writing career, the Scots language and how it has helped him develop as a poet. Here we have an extract from...

Mark Thomson and the Scots Language

In the autumn of 2010, the Scots Language Centre visited Mark Thomson and discussed his writing career, the Scots language and how it has helped him develop as a poet. Here we have an extract from...

Sauchs, Scaurs and Signage

I want them back, the written-over names that gentrifying fashion anglicised, that bland or blind tuition vandalised. I want the stories that the map disclaims. the Brig o Allan, Corntoun, Chuckie...

Sang o the Five Fiers

Korean, Yun Son-Do (1587-1671) Foo mony fiers hae I?Coont them ...Watter & stane,Bamboo an pine sae brawThe risin meen on the eastern BenWeel-lued, a frien anna. We niver striveNae need say ITae...

Twa Traditional Malay Pantuns

1They weir bangles on their airms I weir bangles roon ma queats. They say, “Dinna dae yon, ye tyke.” I dae fit I damnt weel like!    2Aaeech! Jobbit ma fit On a stob in the bog. Aaeech! Hurtit ma...

Kin (Oreruravanar)

Tamil Like a deer, catched in a tinchel On the braid fite, satty shore Flayed hide turned ootside inYe may rin,Taste freedom sweet ... Bidin wi kinsmenAnely chynes the feet.   Like a deer,...

Alasdair Allan's Presentation to the Cross-Party Group

At the cross-party group meeting on 13 December 2011, Dr Alastair Allan, the Minister for Learning and Skills, gave CPG members an update on progress on the Scottish Government's policy on Scots....