"whaur" poems
Cauld-bluided, humphing ower the stark grey hills
Gowd een skinkle to an fro
Split tongue lappin at the wind-blown smells
Bog grass blackens whaur ye go
Smoke split shielings and the clammerin o bairns
Bone cracked mithers in yer wake
Heirt-scaud ruin fae the valleys tae the cairns
Driven by a drouth ye canny slake
Crib tale shapit unner creakin heather thatch
Howf born craitur o the nicht
Auld sangs spake aboot the maidens ye would ******
Fleggit bairns tae keep intil the licht
True? Naw, havers, juist the blaflum o wives
God nivver biggit ocht sae fell
But ae bairn crouchin in the ruins o its life
Can think o naethin else the tale tae tell
Blin, lost, forwandert fae the shattered faimly hame
Warslin wi fear tae unnerstan
White winds whistle as he gies the beast a name
And dragons whiles can take the form o man.
Apr 11, 2011
Apr 11, 2011 at 2:39 AM UTC
*Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun*
It was silent. His body sunk into the earth.
His soul long gone from there. He had died
A gun upon his arms.
*When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid*
He had died with a home that his dream would
live on.
*Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears*
Later they had told us he had died with courage
and valor.
*Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me*
The shots continue he fell by the
tenth.
*Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun*
A ******** grasped in his stone
cold hand
*Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun*
He saw a line of faces, brown, black
and white. Some were smiling others,
crying
*Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun*
His body sunk into the cold, wet ground
As God opened his arms, for a boy
drenched in blood.
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
A group waited in the wings. Soldiers
from many places. Who fought to keep
their shores safe.
Feb 6, 2016
Feb 6, 2016 at 7:54 PM UTC
Whit dae ye want?
Mrs Scot said
as she opened the door
of her ground floor flat
across the Square
is Hannah in please?
I said
diz she ken
ye ur comin?
she said
I looked at her nonplussed
hoping Hannah
would come
and rescue me
from her Scottish mother
I said I'd meet
her here
I said
did ye noo?
she said
she looked behind her
and bellowed
HANNAH
th' loon is haur
I looked behind me
into the Square
then back at Hannah's
mother standing
gazing at me
with her dark eyes
Hannah came along
the passage
to the front door
o Benny
she said
I was in the bog
but I am ready now
ready fur wit?
her mother said
I'm going out
with Benny
she said
whaur ur ye gonnae?
her mother said
see the tennis
on the South Bank
and have a tea
or lemonade
Hannah said
wi' whose bunsens?
her mother said
staring at me
like a hawk
bunsens?
I said
money
Hannah said softly
I have money
I said
rattling the pocket
of my blue jeans
dornt be late
her mother said
I'll hae tatties
an' neebs at 5pm
we won't be late
Hannah said
I nodded an affirmation
better nae
ur I'll tan yer backside
her mother said grimly
Hannah nodded
and we left
and into the Square
and we knew her mother
was watching us
darkly there.
Jul 29, 2016
Jul 29, 2016 at 3:03 AM UTC
Benny walked
to Hannah's flat
and her mother
answered the door
(her mother was a Scot)
and stared at him
och it's ye
she said
best come in
HANNAH
the wee boy's haur
Benny followed her
along the passage
and she settled him
in the lounge
giving him her look
(which would have
brought fear
to a brave grenadier)
Hannah came
into the lounge
got behind
she said
all like a cat's tail
where we going?
Benny suggested
a trip to Jail Park
to ride the swings
and slide
want to go to
an art gallery
she said
see some art not
ride swings or slide
Benny nodded his head
and said
ok and talked
of where his old man
used to take him
in the West End
to see art
just going
to tell Mum
she said
and walked
to the kitchen
where her mother
was doing washing
in the copper
gang whaur?
her mother said
I’ve nae bunsens
just bus fare
Hannah said
the art gallery's free
her mother opened
her purse
(moths flew out
Hannah later said)
and placed a few coins
in Hannah's palm
aam nae payin'
fur heem
she said
hard faced
Hannah said
that's fine
and off they went
out of the flat
down the slope
to get a bus
to Trafalgar Square
and look at
the art in
a gallery there
Mar 8, 2016
Mar 8, 2016 at 7:47 AM UTC
Hannah said to meet her
at her flat
so I went across the Square
to where her flat was
and knocked at the door
Mrs Scot stood there
Hannah is it?
I nodded
Hannah's it at th' shaps
she said
o right can I come in
and wait?
I said
she stared at me
for a few seconds
as if I'd made
an indecent proposal
ah guess ye can
she said
and she stood back
to let me pass
I went to the passageway
and it smelt of yesterdays
dinner and boiling washing
sit doon in th' livin' room
she said
I sat down
looking around the room
and she went off to the kitchen
the radio was on low
playing Victor Sylvester music
there were black and white photos
on the sideboard
and a big photo on the wall
of a wedding
then the front door opened
and Hannah came in
I'm back
got your shopping
and she walked past
the living room door
o you're here already Benny
she said to me
good just putting this lot away
and we can be off
aff whaur?
her mother said
Benny's showing me
his new school
Hannah said
what's sae special abit 'at?
she said
coming out of the kitchen
like a warrior for battle
his new school in September
I want to see it
Hannah said
her mother pulled a face
and stared at me
is it a wee jimmies skale?
yes Mum a boy's school
Hannah said
I felt out of place
and stared at the wallpaper
right we are off now Mum
see you later
Hannah said
and we went out the door
and into the Square
don't mind her
Hannah said
she's always that way
and I mused
good start to a new day
so we walked off
to where my new school was
about a good mile away
glad to be on our way.
Feb 11, 2016
Feb 11, 2016 at 3:06 AM UTC
Whaur ur ye gonnae?
Mrs Scot said.
Going out
with Benny
Hannah said.
Whaur abit?
her mother asked.
Maybe swimming
in Bedlam Park
Hannah replied.
Again?
Ye only went
lest week
her mother said moodily.
Hannah went
into her bedroom
to find her
swimming costume
her mother
followed her.
Ah guess ye want
some bunsens?
the mother asked.
Just a few pence
for the locker key
Hannah said.
Her mother went out
and Hannah
found her costume
and a towel
and waited.
There was a knock
at the front door
and Mrs Scot answered it.
Benny stood there
she stared at him.
Ye hud best come in
Ah suppose
she said to him.
He entered
and walked down
the passageway
Mrs Scot following
behind muttering.
Hannah met him
by her door
got your swimming stuff?
she said.
Yes and money
he said.
Mrs Scot
got her black purse
and gave Hannah
a few coins
and stared at them both.
Nae funay business
she said.
Of course not
Hannah replied.
They went
to the front door
and went out.
The mother
watched them
cross the Square
and out of sight
down the slope.
What did she mean
no funny business?
Benny said.
Just Mum being
her usual charming self
Hannah said.
Benny let the words
disappear from his
12 year old head.
Aug 13, 2017
Aug 13, 2017 at 1:49 AM UTC