Kennins frae the Flouer

Hamish Scott

Poem Yin

Notes

[1] (Kennins) Scottish National Dictionary (SND): ken … I. v. … 5. Vbl.n. ken(n)in(g), … (1) (a) recognition, acquaintance (n.Sc. 1959). Also in pl.; (b) understanding, power of apprehension, senses (Sh., Cai., Abd., Lnk. 1959) …

[2] (Flouer) flower

[3] anything

[4] SND: ‡ eesome, adj. Handsome, good to look at, pleasing to the eye. Note: in SND, the symbol ‡ signifies ‘obsolescent’.

[5] beauty, splendour

[6] SND: † anerlie, anerly, adv. Only, solely. Occurs as a jocular archaism in the mod. period. Note: in SND, the symbol † signifies ‘obsolete’.

[7] in

[8] rest, remainder

[9] world

[10] shake

Poem Twa

Notes

[1] SND: life, n. … Derivs. and Combs.: (1) lifie, -ey, full of life, lively, vivacious, brisk, spirited, animating …

[2] healthy, vigorous (as in hale and hearty).

[3] SND: fere, adj. Also … feir … sound in body or mind; healthy, sturdy. Now only in obsolete phrase hale and fere, for which see hail, adj.

[4] death

[5] SND: win frae: to be allowed to leave, to escape (Sh., Ork. 1974).

[6] living

[7] for aye: for ever

[8] own

[9] coming

[10] soon

Poem Thrie

Notes

[1] SND: a’, aa, aw, a, aal … A. adj. … 4. Meaning every before … (5) kin kin(d)

[2] each

[3] other

[4] each one

[5] perfect

[6] needs

[7] to

Poem Fower

Notes

[1] like

[2] SND: fey, adj. … 1. Fated to die, doomed, as evinced by peculiar, usually elated, behaviour thought to portend death. Gen. Sc., now only poetic. … 2. Hence, without the notion of impending death: behaving in an odd, excited or irresponsible manner as if bewitched; crazy, daft, worked up …

[3] death

[4] agree

[5] those

[6] way, road or path (literally and figuratively). Usually spelt gate.

[7] SND: same … Also … †samen, -in(e), -yne. The form samen survived until recently in Moray and Banff …

[8] way

[9] bloom

[10] SND: dow, v. To fade (away), to wither, to become musty. (Sh., Ork., Cai., Bwk.)