It’s that time ay year fur a Mister Burns,
wha impressed the world wae lyrical turns.
This Ploughman Poet fae doon near Ayr
enjoys eez spoils coz he dared tae play
wae witches chasin’ Tam O’Shanter,
mice ‘n’ men ‘n’ full decanters.
Eez love ay wummin upset the kirk,
though fae conflict he refused tae shirk.
But a man’s a man ‘n’ aw that shite.
Haggis ’n’ tatties?
Naw, no th-night.
Th-night’s the night some’ll share a line,
tae toast ma brother’s ain decline.
Wae kilts ‘n’ chookters naewhere seen
as guests fae Scotland’s jails and schemes,
aw gather roon and talk ay times
dealin’ drugs ‘n’ victimless crimes,
wae converted guns ‘n’ lockback knives,
unruly weans ‘n’ battered wives.
But a life like that is a life ay shite.
Cocaine ‘n’ Moet?
Naw, no th-night.
Ah’ll sit ba masel ‘n’ reminisce
ay aw the times when we wur kids;
him spearing a jellyfish by The Clyde,
while mullet jumped tae escape the tide;
th-gither we wur oor mother’s pride,
‘n’ when Da wiz drunk he’d help me hide,
then pick me up ‘n’ run tae Gran’s,
where eyes wur rubbed wae shakin’ hands.
But naebody’s here tae hear that shite.
Wull Ah shed a tear?
Aye, mibbe th-night.
Comments
Blessing | January 25, 2012 - 12:54
oldpesky thank you for sharing your personal loss and in this grand, grand way! Tam O'Shanter has to be one of my favorite poems and you have given it an alternative world of word adventure. Best go before I start crying buckets. Lots love and blessings.
oldpesky | January 25, 2012 - 14:30
Hey Blessing, thanks for dropping by. I've added another couple of lines. I'm off to work now. Hope you have a lovely day.
blighters rock | January 25, 2012 - 17:35
Great one, Pesky, my fave is the last stanza but it's all good
scratch | January 25, 2012 - 21:41
Shit, that's good. The previous is an understatement; bloody hell.
oldpesky | January 26, 2012 - 08:53
Good morning Richard and scratch. You are both very kind. Probably too kind. Every time I look at this I change a wee something. Can't help myself. Think I'll contact OTT and tell her of a new ABC OCD symptom...just when I thought I was almost cured.
celticman | January 26, 2012 - 08:57
I seem to recognise the work of some rabid Rabbie
Silver Spun Sand | January 26, 2012 - 09:27
Splendid, op and so very moving.
Thanks for sharing.
Tina
oldpesky | January 26, 2012 - 11:08
Morning celticman, I was foaming at the mouth when I flung those words on the page...or screen...or in your case...email.
Hi tina, always nice when a poet of your standing drops by. (eh, not that celticman isn't a poet of some standing himself)
And I've just noticed the cherry fairies have been. I'm humbled, as always, as I'm not a poet. I just write a few poems now and again that people seem to like.
threeleafshamrock | January 26, 2012 - 12:35
Wow, you mightn't write many poems but when the notions takes you, it sweeps everyone else along too. I think this is brilliant...heavy and kind of angry but SO good. Well done old son, love it!
Chris ;)
sue dinum | January 27, 2012 - 00:44
Once again the master of metre and rhyme, op, even in native tongue. Good stuff, and charged with positive emotion.
sue
Linda Wigzell Cress | January 27, 2012 - 00:54
What a grand, touching and lovely poem.
Mark Heathcote | January 27, 2012 - 03:14
A great read much enjoyed and very gritty... :)
Mark Heathcote | January 27, 2012 - 03:15
A great read much enjoyed and very gritty... :)
oldpesky | January 27, 2012 - 16:07
Hi chris, sue, linda and mark. Thank you very much for your very kind words. I never knew where it was going when I started it so I'm pleased and surprised it's turned out okay.
hudsonmoon | January 29, 2012 - 13:57
Grand work, Kevin.
‘n’ when Da wiz drunk he’d help me hide,
then pick me up ‘n’ run tae Gran’s,
where eyes wur rubbed wae shakin’ hands.
I could cherry pick more, but that was my favorite.
Rich
oldpesky | January 30, 2012 - 14:03
Hi rich, thanks for popping in, having just spent some time with your piano-playing monkey and clown on the run my head's in good place today. Cheers.
Denzella | February 25, 2012 - 06:13
How do you do that. It was just great. Clever too.
I'm right pis**d off now. I'll never be able to write to that standard. I can't put in what God's left out.
I really admire your stuff though.
Much enjoyed.
Moya
scratch | February 25, 2012 - 06:45
This just popped up again OP. It's quite simply superb.
scratch | February 25, 2012 - 06:46
I maybe signed off for a while as my wife is about to be delivered of a child.
oldpesky | February 26, 2012 - 10:42
Good morning moya and scratch. Hope you're both well.
And congratulations on the latest addition to the family, scratch. I like a piece of good news in the morning. Big manly hug heading your way.
Overthetop1 | March 29, 2012 - 12:31
Very belatedly - genius poem. Extremely moving as well. A fitting tribute.
oldpesky | March 29, 2012 - 13:03
I'm just pleased to hear from you again. Hope you're good.
Overthetop1 | March 30, 2012 - 14:14
I'm either very, very good, but when I'm bad I'm wicked.