Him an Hir
James Fenton
An frae whusperin
Oot agane, behin
The Chronicle,
He scoolies, gowsty gettin, ower the aidge at
Hir agane,
Minin hir needles:
‘Noo luck,’ qu’ he, ‘whutiver they daen or wur
At, him an hir —
Twunty poun apiece an baith weel warnt agane
Ocht o the kine
Iver,
Whutiver it wuz.
Twunty.’
‘Noo you,’ qu’ she, ‘whiles ga wrang
Wae yer readin o a thing.’
‘Wrang?’ qu’ he, wampishin —
An absolyute affront tae
Public decency —
Whut’s wrang wae that? In
Blak an white an
In Cowlraine toon, forby, an ye know
Whut A alloo?’
‘Ay weel?’ qu’ she.
‘Men an weemen nooadays,’ qu’ he.
‘Ay nooadays,’ qu’ she,
Minin hir knittin.
Next: Thonner an Thon
Previous: Davy
Contents: Ullans: The Magazine for Ulster-Scots, Nummer 6 Simmer 1998
