Ten Fit Ta’
John McGregor
We welcome a new writer from the North Antrim area. John McGregor is a good friend to the Society, and was encouraged to write in Ulster-Scots at a class run by Philip Robinson in Stranocum. We look forward to featuring his work again in future issues of Ullans.
Onie time A apen’t mae mooth,
When A wus wee an gaed tae schuil,
Tha maister luved tae pit me doon,
An’ A wus toul A broke iverie rule.
Tha words A uised wud aye be wrang,
A cudnae taak richt an be unnerstuid,
“Mine yer tongue”, wus his best advice,
A tried and tried as hard’s A cud.
Tha scunner it gien me in tha cless,
A cudnae get mae gremmer richt,
Mae hamewark it wus even waur,
Nae metter hoo lang A spent at nicht.
A niver gat that far wi French,
Tha Inglish leid wus thran enough
It micht as weel be double Dutch,
A dinnae ken why we lairnt that stuff.
This Inglish wusnae ocht A knowed,
It niver wus uised wi tha folks at hame
Fur years an years an monie mair,
Tha wye the’ taak’t had bin tha same.
Tha tovey yins wud stan an stare
An lauch ahint mae bak an aa,
Then cum tha day A unnerstuid,
An noo A feel near ten fit ta’.
There’s naethin wrang wi tha tongue A hae,
Tha leid A taak is noo used lots.
A neednae houl mae wheesht ava,
For noo A’m taakin Ulster-Scots.
Next: Nikita
Previous: Tha spairk o it
Contents: Ullans: The Magazine for Ulster-Scots, Nummer 11 Ware 2010
