Scottish Poetry Selection
- The Maister
The Maister
He gied us Scriptur' names tae spell
But what they meant we couldna' tell,
He maybe didna ken his sel'
- The MaisterWhat funny dogs we used tae draw
Upon oor slates, an' ships an' a'
Till keekin' roond wi' fright, we saw
- The MaisterHe gie'd oor lugs a fearfu' pu',
Said he wad skelp us black an' blue
I doot he wouldna try that noo -
- The MaisterWe mind them weel, his lang black taws,
They nippit sair like partan's claws;
A crabbit little man he was
- The MaisterHis plump roond cheeks as red's the rose,
His twinklin een an' redder nose
Showed that he suppit mair than brose
- The MaisterHe opened aye the schule wi' prayer,
An' psalms, an' questions gied us mair
Than what we thocht was proper there
- The MaisterAn' after time an' siller spent
We left as wise as when we went,
It wisna' muckle that he kent
- The MaisterIt's forty year noo since that day,
An' time, whase besom's aye at play
'Mang other things has swept away
- The MaisterMeaning of unusual words:
keekin=looking
lugs=ears
skelp=smack
taws=leather belt
partan=crab
brose=porridge-like dish
besom=broom
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?