Scots Poems

The Watergaw

The Watergaw
by Hugh MacDiarmid
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

One wet forenight in the sheep-shearing season
I saw the uncanniest thing—
a watergaw with its wavering light
shining beyond the wild downpour of rain ...
and I thought of the last wild look that you gave
when you knew you were destined for the grave.

There was no light in the skylark's

Categories: scots, death, death of a
Form: Rhyme

Auld Sangs

Sing tae me the auld sangs that ah learnt when a bairn,
Sitting at ma mithers knee hearin the lilting tunes,
Carrying me far awa in ma mind 
Wurds  o the land whaur ah live
An love aw the deys o ma life.

The auld sangs o Caledonia uv heroes ,fermers an unco ithers,
Auld yins wi tales tae

Categories: scots, allegory, culture, desire, grief,
Form: Rhyme

A Glesga Setterday Nicht

“Gaun an bile yer heid” he bawled oot,
As he stood in the middle o the cobbled street.
Tae nae yin in particular.
Did he vent his anger.
Fu as a whaulk he staggered and swayed
Wan pin rooted tae the graun,
Ither yin moved like a dervish,
Gaun naewhaur fast.
He should of been hame
Wi his wifie and weans
But naw he insisted

Categories: scots, anger, city, culture, funny,
Form: Light Verse

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Voyage

A Tale of the sea.

Moonlight like little diamonds floating
upon a midnight cold sea
whale song eerily in the distance calls
the little ship sailing on the wind
taking those within to a secret place.
time for them is finished and at an end
wrapped in the gunwales keeping warm

seabirds in the dark  silently fly
no need for them to cry.
beauties

Categories: scots, death, farewell, lost, ocean,
Form: Blank verse

Scots Are Stingy

Someone told me that all Smythes are crazy, and I believed them
At first, until I met one
Who was delightful, and kind, and did not generalize people
He gave me a chance, which was a marvelous thing.
For I had not been willing to give him one.

Another told me that old women are dried up.
Not knowing any, I

Categories: scots, 10th grade, 11th grade,
Form: Prose Poetry

Robert Burns Translation: Comin Thro the Rye

Comin Thro the Rye
by Robert Burns
modern English translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch
 
Oh, Jenny's all wet, poor body,
Jenny's seldom dry;
She's draggin' all her petticoats
Comin' through the rye.
 
Comin' through the rye, poor body,
Comin' through the rye.
She's draggin' all her petticoats
Comin' through the rye.
 
Should a body meet a body
Comin' through the rye,
Should a body kiss

Categories: scots, body, desire, kiss, love,
Form: Verse

Sawney Bean, Legend of a Cannibal - Written In Broad Scots Dialect

Thar was nae richt ae laddie sair
wha heft a cave 'side Galloway,
wi' nae jaiken he griftit dare
as he was nae tae lippen tae.

Ill-naitur'd  fishwife he haud in wi',
the twa 'greed tae gang the'gither.
She haud her tryst, an' haud her wheesht,
his ill-duin vext her wi' nae dither.

Wi' dirk in hand at howe o' nicht
in fu'

Categories: scots, history,
Form: Quatrain