Scottish Poetry Selection
- John Frost

Frost "Jack Frost" is referred to here in the more formal "John" in this poem by William Miller. But the impact on the landscape - and the population - is just the same.



         John Frost

You've come early to see us this year, John Frost,
   Wi your crispin an poutherin gear, John Frost;
For hedge, tower, an tree, as far as I see,
   Are as white as the bloom o the pear, John Frost.

You've been very preceese wi your wark, John Frost,
   Altho ye hae wrocht in the dark, John Frost;
For ilka fit-stap frae the door to the slap
   Is braw as a new linen sark, John Frost.

There are some things aboot ye I like, John Frost,
   An ithers that aft gar me fyke, John Frost;
For the weans, wi cauld taes, cryin 'shoon, stockins, claes' !
   Keep us busy as bees in the byke, John Frost.

An to tell you I winna be blate, John Frost,
   Our gudeman stops oot whiles rather late, John Frost,
An the blame's put on you, if he gets a thocht fou,
   He's sae fleyed for the slippery lang gate, John Frost.

Ye hae fine goins-on in the north, John Frost
   Wi your houses o ice, an sae forth, John Frost;
Tho their kirn's on the fire, they may kirn till they tire,
   But their butter - pray what is it worth, John Frost?

Meaning of unusual words:
poutherin gear=powdering equipment
wrocht=worked, laboured
ilka=every
slap=opening in a hedge or fence
sark=shirt
gar me fyke=makes me troubled
byke=hive
blate=timid
gudeman=husband, master of the house
fleyed=afraid
kirn=churn

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