Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Spider's Spin On It



Just back from Stanza- bagless, unhappily. Who will inherit my smelly socks, flog the first draft of 'The Role of the Oatcake in Scottish History' to the university of Texas after my death? I enjoyed Stanza in my own way and I may write more on this later. Let me announce to the anticipating millions, however, the new project, 'The Spider's Spin On It': Poems inspired by Scottish History. Illustrated by the incomparable Hugh Bryden, this booklet is a mere 8 squid. You can buy one at one of the launches in April or May- watch this space- or by poking my button, yes that's it just there on the right, up a wee bit, uh huh..


The Sma’ Folk

(“It was once thought that artisans and Scottish soldiers’ wives, seeing the tide of battle turn in favour of the Scots at Bannockburn, tied blankets to poles and rushed down Ghillies Hill to join the fray. Modern scholars doubt this.”)

Ave heard it tell we werenae there
but we aye are;
close as craws to sodgers
an the reek o’ bluid.
We’re sma’ but we cover the groon
like haar,
thieves, hoors and ither scum,
bone-pickers.
Dad’s Army we’re no,
but we won the battle, a’ richt.
We aye dae.

8 comments:

Stooshie said...

Love it.

Will you do one on the Battle of Carronbridge?

Rachel Fox said...

Your own way...what is that then?

Oddly, perhaps, I like 'Patriotism' in this book so far. Got the killer last line and everything - national anthem material even...maybe...
x

Stooshie said...

The national anthem of Uzbekhistan, I think you mean.

Titus said...

Typical. You only go away for a week and yet another book is published in the village.

Stooshie said...

Yes, Titus, & shamelessly plugged at the drop of a hat. Is the interweb turning us all into unravelling salesmen? Ochone a-ri, it is the time of dark sadness in the glens.

Titus said...

And sarky gladness in the men's, I fear.

Stooshie said...

There will be a great wailing in the clachans tonight.

Stooshie said...

And a great whaling in the ness.