POEM OF THE DAY

The two short poems below were highly commended in this year’s James Mccash Scots Poetry Competition. By coincidence both refer to East Coast women writers.

THE JINER (FOR NAN SHEPHERD)

Wha micht hae thocht that I’d be heezed

Mang unformed maitter, futtle, spail, Bilget, knappart, skelf and feeze, Puir bauchelt straiks and aul blin nails?

Yet fae the liggans I was liftit,

And in his bothie shapit, preesed, Syne I wi howp and skaith was sklifftit,

This lowan saul wi grace was beased.

Me! Efer tholin aeons thonder!

The Maister waled me fae the lave: He gied a gairden whaur I’d daunder Wi sainin, scowff and leave tae live

William Hershaw

MARION ANGUS

Hill o Wirren wi yer heid cocht in the swirlin, birlin whirlin mist a wast wund streivin, dreivin doun, an yon bonie view frae laigh heicht ower the braid cultured Angus Strath tae the caul Nor sea, noo wheechit oot, noo there is nocht but hather an fite cloud, an a weet smirr cours and persistant.

I like it fine this cocooned awa world whaur nocht bides but yer ain lane thochts that trevil alang the hiddled awa wey, time haes nae credence here, the dey, the morn, yestreen, faw kens?

We passed here, I never seen ye, ye niver seen me, but we baith ken this hill hauds us tae itsel,

It haes its ain tales tae tell a land sang for lang syne, for aa time.

George T Watt