Thurso Berwick
Scots wha Hae
The Gallagate’s a-fleur wi traitours
Rinnan aa-gaits wi thir havers;
Creatioun nivir crappt sic craturs
Creepan frae thir holes.
Bonnie Mary’s lost hir suitors;
They’ve aa forgotten ocht thit maitters;
Hir gallants nou are stoot, wi gaiters,
Owre the border’s pale.
Whaur’s the Chairlie secon-sichtit
Thit wull see the lassie richtit?
An fecht until hir een’s aa lichtit
Up lik Hogmanay’s?
Hae aa the Scots wi havers driftit?
Aa thae braw chiels wi hert’s-bluid giftit?
Ir waur, hae aa thir minds upliftit,
Luikan at hir thies?
In the pubs an in the pulpit
Chaff an sawdust mairk the culprit:
‘Sae help us, God, we canna help it’!
Helpin helps himsel.
Can they no feel the nails she’s tholan?
Hou can they kneel, whin hir knell’s tollan?
Hou can they sleep whin Mary’s wailan
Hie abuin the bell?
The Gallagate’s a-fleur wi traitours
Rinnan aa-gaits wi thir havers;
Creatioun nivir crappt sic craturs
Creepan frae thir holes…
—Thurso Berwick, “Scots wha Hae”
published in A KIST O SKINKLAN THINGS
#Scotstober #haver
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