Scottish Poets

[Frank MacDuffy]

I took a poetry class in college and have loved the stuff since, how many Scottish poets do people know of here (other than the Burns)? I've been trying to find information but haven't really been able to find anything as of late. I just got into winter break on Thursday so I finally have time to do some reading AND do some writing!

[macwilkin]

The poet Robert Service, famous for "The Cremation of Sam McGee", lived in Ayrshire for a number of years -- he was born in England to Scottish parents.

T.

[sav]

Sorry, can't be of much help...I would recommend The Bard, however...his words never cease to amaze.

[wsk]

The poet Robert Service, famous for "The Creation of Sam McGee", lived in Ayrshire for a number of years -- he was born in England to Scottish parents.

T.

That would be Cremation. Good malapropism though.

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

[Tattoo Bradley]

The poet Robert Service, famous for "The Creation of Sam McGee", lived in Ayrshire for a number of years -- he was born in England to Scottish parents.

T.

Seems like I've heard Johnny Cash read that... if not, he should have... I can hear his voice reading it now... I KNOW he did... or I'm going crazy. Which is it????


EDIT:
AH HAH! So, I'm not crazy! I found it on Itunes. (I'd be freaking lost without Itunes.) Great stuff. Thanks for reminding me of that, Cajunscot.

[macwilkin]

That would be Cremation. Good malapropism though.

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

Hey, gi'e me a break, mon -- I just finished grading the final projects in my online class I teach (History of the American Frontier) -- I think I'm allowed a mistake or twa!

T.

[Pour1Malt]

this yin is brill!

The Jeelie Piece Song (Skyscraper Wean)
(Adam MacNaughton)

I'm a skyscraper wean, I live on the nineteenth flair,
But I'm no gaun oot to play ony mair,
Since we moved to Castlemilk, I'm wasting away,
'Cause I'm getting one less meal every day.

O ye cannae fling pieces oot a twenty-story flat,
Seven-hundred hungry weans will testify to that,
If it's butter, cheese or jeely, if the breid is plain or pan,
The odds against it reaching earth and ninety-nine to one.

On the first day my maw flung out a piece o' Hovis brown.
It came skyting oot the winda and went up insteid o' doon,
But every twenty-seven hours it comes back into sight,
'Cause my piece went into orbit and became a satellite.

One the second day my maw flung me a piece oot once again.
It went and hit the pilot in a fast, low-flying plane.
He scraped it off his goggles, shouting through the intercom:
`The Clydeside Reds have got me wi' a breid-and-jeely bomb!'

One the third day my maw thought she would try another throw.
The Salvation Army band was staunin' doon below.
`ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS' was the piece they should have played,
But the oompah-man was playing a piece-on-marmalade.

We've wrote away tae Oxfam to try and get some aid,
And a' the weans in Castlemilk have formed a ``Piece'' brigade;
We're going to march to George's Square, demanding civil rights,
Like `Nae Mair Hooses Over Piece-Flinging Height!'

[Pour1Malt]

I took a poetry class in college and have loved the stuff since, how many Scottish poets do people know of here (other than the Burns)? I've been trying to find information but haven't really been able to find anything as of late. I just got into winter break on Thursday so I finally have time to do some reading AND do some writing!

try this... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Scottish_poets

[Pour1Malt]

an anither...

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...nich/poets.htm

[wgority]

I would thoroughly recommend the work of Hamish Henderson - Scottish poet, songwriter, soldier, peace activist and much more. His works includes The Freedom-Come All Ye, The 51st Highland Division's Farewell to Sicily and his song The John MacLean March.

I'd also recommend Harvey Holton. I met him once some years ago during a visit in Dunkeld. I don't know how well known he is outside that area, but his work is worth searching out.

If you just want a raw list of poets, you should use the Wikipedia link listed above.

Bill