CONTENTS THE WIND FRAE THE BALTIC THE TRAMP TO THE TATTIE-DULIE HALLOWEEN …. ADAM THE DAFT BIRD PRIDE KIRRIE THE END OT …. THE KELPIE …. BALTIC STREET BAILIE BRUCE…. CHARLEWAYN …. THE MUCKLE MOU . vii I 3 5 8 10 13 15 17 20 22 25 28 31 34 viii CONTENTS THE GANGEREL THE TINKLERS BALOO THE BANKS O THE ESK THE WISE-LIKE CHAP INVERQUHARITY FAUR-YE-WEEL . A YOUNG MANS SONG THE SHADOWS . A WINTER PHANTASY MARSEY TOWN THE SEASONS IN ENGLISH All these poems, with the exception of the last two in the book, have appeared in Country Life, and I have to thank the editor for his courteous permission to reproduce them. BONNIE JOANN AND OTHER POEMS BONNIE JOANN WEVE stookit the hairst an were needin To gaither it in, Syne, gin the morns dry, well be leadin An warkll begin But noo Ill awa doon the braeside My lane, while I can Wha kens wha hell meet by the wayside, My bonnie Joann East yonder, the hairst-fields are hidin The sea frae my een, Gin ye keek whaur the stooks are dividin Ye11 see it atween. Sae douce an sae still it has sleepit Since hairst-time began Like my hert gin yed tak it an keep it My bonnie Joann. 2 i BONNIE JOANN Owre a thing the shadows gang trailin, Owre stubble an strae Frae the hedge to the fit o the pailin They rax owre the way But the sun may gang through wi his beamin An traivel his span, For aye, by the licht o my dreamhV, I see ye, Joann. Awa frae ye, naebodys braver, Mair wise-like an bauld, Aside ye, I hech an I haver, Im het an Im cauld But oh could I tell wiout speakin The hert o a man, Ye micht find Im the lad that ye re seekin, My bonnie Joann THE WIND FRAE THE BALTIC BELOW the was, oot-by Montrose, The tides ca up an doon And monys the gallant mairchantmanLies in aside the toon Oh, its fine alang the tideway The loupin waters rin When the wind is frae the Baltic wi the brigs comin in. Id gie the ring upon my hand To hide me frae the sea That manes by nicht an cries by day The dule thats come to me, For Ill hear nae mair the fit-fa When hame the brigs may win O a man that sailed the Baltic, nor his step comin in. 3