An eventfu’ life
I’m a wiley oul codger o’ sixty-three
I’v seen mony eventfu’ years,
Some hae been happy, some hae been sad
But aa managed tae smile through tha tears.
I’v seen tha divil when in tha horrors o’ drink
An’ an ugly twisted oul rip was he,
On mony a nicht when aa wus fu’ tight
We walked hame the gither, him an’ me.
He called me his brither an’ aa was impressed
That he’d taakin sicca leikin tae me,
We’d laugh an’ carouse on lonely dark roads
Whaur God-fearin’ folk wor unlikely tae be
“Go oan, appin tha bottle that’s in yir hip pookitt!”
He’d tant afore ye git hame
So help mae aa wud, screw aff that damn’d lid
An’ drink tha lot withoot guilt ir shame.
Tae luk baak on tha time when oul Nick wus aroon
It’s an event frae mae past I’ll bae hanted
But aa wudnae bae afeer’d, if he was tae appear,
Tae let him ken that he issnae wanted
Aa think aa hae tha courage, tae resist tha temptation
Tae follow tha oul blaggard tae hell
Furr aa hae tha support of my companion o’ life
A precious commodity too dear tae sell.
Sandy Jack
Reprinted, with permission, from Among mae Memories, A Book of Contemporary Poems, by Sandy Jack. Copies of this book are available from Alexander Jack of Strabane, Co Tyrone for £6.25 (contact the Honorary Secretary for full address).
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Contents: Ullans: The Magazine for Ulster-Scots, Nummer 5 Simmer1997