A Song For Kilts by Robert Service

[McMurdo]

Just saw this and thought I'd share it


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A Song For Kilts
by
Robert Service


How grand the human race would be
If every man would wear a kilt,
A flirt of Tartan finery,
Instead of trousers, custom built!
Nay, do not think I speak to joke:
(You know I'm not that kind of man),
I am convinced that all men folk.
Should wear the costume of a Clan.

Imagine how it's braw and clean
As in the wind it flutters free;
And so conducive to hygiene
In its sublime simplicity.
No fool fly-buttons to adjust,--
Wi' shanks and maybe buttocks bare;
Oh chiels, just take my word on trust,
A bonny kilt's the only wear.

'Twill save a lot of siller too,
(And here a canny Scotsman speaks),
For one good kilt will wear you through
A half-a-dozen pairs of breeks.
And how it's healthy in the breeze!
And how it swings with saucy tilt!
How lassies love athletic knees
Below the waggle of a kilt!

True, I just wear one in my mind,
Since sent to school by Celtic aunts,
When girls would flip it up behind,
Until I begged for lowland pants.
But now none dare do that to me,
And so I sing with lyric lilt,--
How happier the world would be
If every male would wear a kilt!

[James MacMillan]

Thanks - I needed that!

[BEEDEE]

We should adopt it as the anthem for XMTS. Does it have a music score as well?

Brian

[McMurdo]

Not sure if there is music for it.

[Steve53]

I've read all of Robert Service's poetry that I've been able to find, but somehow missed that one!

[way2fractious]

Robert Service, one of the better known Scottish poets, did some really memorable writing. I'm fairly sure he didn't provide a score for his poems. More of his work is here:

http://www.robertwservice.com/

And here is an earlier XMTS thread about Scottish poets:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=23031

[majdan]

Would Service be considered a Scottish or a Canandian poet?

[Abax]

Growing up in Alaska, we hear plenty of Robert Service. In fact, I graduated from Robert Service High School nearly three decades ago. But . . . I missed this gem too. Fabulous!

Abax

[macwilkin]

Would Service be considered a Scottish or a Canandian poet?

Both. Service was born in England to Scottish parents, and spent his childhood in Kilwinning. electricscotland.com has a nice article about RWS's Scottish connections here:

http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...rt_service.htm

And here's another good article:

http://www.kilwinning.org/service/default.htm

Several years ago there were Robert Service Dinners, in the spirit and tradition of a Burns Supper, being held in Kilwinning and in the Yukon.

Besides his "Song for Kilts", Service wrote several other Scottish-themed poems, including "The Haggis of Pte. Macphee" and my all-time favorite, "The Ballad of How Macpherson Held the Floor":

http://www.auldlangsyne.org/archive7.html#macpherson

Yours in service,

Todd

[irishrob]

My Dad was a fan and had quite a collection of Robert Service and could recite a large number of the ballads. I never heard or read this particular one and how appropriate for this group!

Rob