A lovely collection of nostalgic and neglected Traditional Scots Poems - Anne Forsyth (ed.)
Providing a record of social change and evoking poignant memories for many, here are poems of childhood, poems of the countryside, poems of the Clyde shipyards and other telling a comical story. All the old favourites are here, including poems never before published.
This extensive collection, spanning the century from pre-World War I to the present day, includes poems by Alexander Gray, William Soutar, James Logie Robertson, James Milne, Charles Murray, and many, many others.
Reminiscent of a Scotland long disappeared, these verses will provide as much pleasure today as when they were first written.
Blithe and Braw Includes:
• Full Glossary • Index of all poems • Index of first lines, to help you find your favourite poem
Complete list of poems (listed alphabetically here)
Aince upon a Day William Soutar Ambrosia W R Darling Babbity Bowster Anon Background Helen B Cruickshank Besom Haunle, The T Evans Johnstone Border Burn, A J B Selkirk Cast the coat an’ till’t again James Milne Caul’ Comfort James Milne Causey Courtship John Crawford Christmas Carol Alexander Gray Contentment W D Cocker Cronies Hamish Hendry Deein’ Fisher, The David Wingate Diffugere Nives James Logie Robertson Drunkard’s Raggit Wean, The James P Crawford Echt-Day Clock,The Mary Symon Fiddler, The J M Caie Gey Likely - 1707 J M Caie Granny’s Washin’-Bine John Buchanan Hen’s a Hen for a’ that, A Anon Herd’s House, The Walter Wingate Hipperty Skipperty Anon I never saw it better Walter Wingate Inducement, The Anon It’s wonderful Charles Ness Jock Tamson’s Bairns J M Caie John and Tibbie’s Dispute Robert Leighton John Frost William Miller John Macpherson’s Sunday Suit Douglas Kynoch Katie Beardie Anon Kitty Brewster William Cadenhead Logan Braes John Mayne Lucy’s Flittin’ William Laidlaw Maister and the Bairns, The William Thomson Mally Lee Anon Martha W D Cocker McFarlane o’ the Sprots o’ Burnieboozie G Bruce Thomson Mrs Purdie’s Aipple Tert Anon My Doug T Evans Johnstone Night’s Rain, A Walter Wingate O for Friday Nicht! John C Milne O Lord Look Doon on Buchan John C Milne Packman, The Charles Murray Pair o’ Nicky Tams, A G S Morris Persuasion Alexander Gray Plooman’s Lament, A W D Cocker Proposal, The John C Milne Rab in the Field Helen B Cruickshank Road, The Christine Orr Said the Spaewife Dorothy Margaret Paulin Sang o’ the Smiddy, The Lewis Spence Scotch Words Robert Leighton Scots Dominie, A Hamish Hendry Sermon on Daniel, The Barbara Ross M’Intosh Singin’ Tattie-Bogle, The Anon Slippy Stane, The Anon Snail and the Craw, The W D Cocker Spaewife and the Sweep, The Anon Station-Master’s Dochter, The Anon Taw Traivlers, The Donald Macalister Tinkler, The Charles Murray We’re a’ ae oo Anon Wee Jaikie’s Sang Donald Gordon Wha’ daur meddle wi’ me? Anon Willie Winkie William Miller Yairds, The John P Fergus Yellow-Haired Laddie, The Anon
Media Reviews
a collection of traditional Scots poems both nostalgic and neglected, edited by Anne Forsyth. And a grand wee paperback it is, too. Its range is vast, beginning as it does with “Willie Winkie”, right on to “Mrs. Purdie’s Aipple Tart”.
'It has been known albeit infrequently, for yours truly to burst into verse. Mind you the term verse verges on the flattering – doggerel would be nearer the mark. Still, it was with a light heart that I peeped into Blithe and Braw, a collection of traditional Scots poems both nostalgic and neglected, edited by Anne Forsyth. And a grand wee paperback it is, too. Its range is vast, beginning as it does with “Willie Winkie”, right on to “Mrs. Purdie’s Aipple Tart”. The pages in between are also a delight, being divided into chapters with couthy headings like Winchin’, Workin’ Fowk and Clishmaclaver. Incidentally, the latter is omitted from the Scots glossary. Oversight, mistake or just plain thrawn? I wonder. The opening chapter is devoted to children – The Bairns. And it is here that the difference between the nostalgic and the neglected is pointed out. We have the rather fine nostalgic poems, “A Scots Dominie” by Hamish Hendry followed by “O for Friday Nicht!” by John C. Milne. However the two are preceded by James P. Crawford’s deservedly neglected “The Drunkards Waggit Wean”, drenched as it is in sentimentalism. The chapter on how to get the girl (Winchin’) throws up a couple of weel-kent gems, G. Bruce Thomson’s “McFarlane O’ The Sports O’ Burnieboozie” and William Laidlaw’s poignant “Lucy’s Flittin’”. For sheer amusement it would be hard to better Robert Leighton’s Scotch Words”, the tale of a highborn Englishwoman’s overnight stay in a Scottish inn. “Is it a custom in your contrary then, for ladies to have pigs in bed with them?” Equally wry and with more than a hint of truth in it is Douglas Kynoch’s “John Macpherson’s Sundy Suit”. Wonderful! Just about as good as “A pair O’ Nicky Tams” by G. S. Morris. I originally wanted to review this collection entirely in verse: I’ve maybe never telt ye, Nae need to, I susppose, But time to time my preferences taks poetry o’er prose. But the Scots Magazine turned it down flat. You can see why. Get the real thing – BUY THE BOOK!' The Scots Magazine
Customer Reviews
blithe and braw david murray
It was a very good read and very good value for money
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