A Heirskip Loast
Author: Charlie Reynolds
Date: 2004
Source: Ullans: The Magazine for Ulster-Scots, Nummer 9 and 10 Wunter 2004
Charlie Reynolds
This is a wee rhyme A pit doon on paper efter hearin a boady sayin’ he didnae lake pipe ban’s. Nae herm in that ye micht sae, but there ir a wheen o’ things thaut ir pairt o’ the Ulster-Scots heirskip whuther wae lake it ir naw. Hooiniver, tha wee rhyme’s ca’ed; A Heirskip Loast.
A dinnae believe tha guid buik, A hard a boady sae.
Heaven, Hell, tha Man abain, it cannae bae richt — nae way
Miracles an’ parables, an’ wa’kin’ on tha sea —
The’r naethin mair nor fairy tales, tae a clivir boy lake me.
A dinnae ga’ near tha kirk nae mair, A hard a boady sae.
A hae better things tae dae bae far, upon tha Sabbath deh —
Tha shappin’ spree, tha DIY, ir maebae joost clean tha kar,
Ir watch tha match on telly, doon in tha local bar.
A dinnae lake tha pipin’, A hard a boady sae,
Ir fiddle tunes, ir plaein spoons — thae’re frae anither deh.
Tha tartan kilt wud mak ye wilt; it’s naw for tha lake o’ me.
Computer Games, surfin tha net, ir there tae set is free.
A dinnae lake tha aul’ battles, A hard a boady sae,
Ir hear o’ things brav sojers dane in mony a bloody fray.
A’l naw fecht for onythin’, unless owercome wae greed:
A’l keep mae heid doon richt an’ low, ignore mae brither’s need.
A dinnae lake tha aul’ sangs, A hard a boady sae.
Aul sangs o’ lang ago joost pit mae aff mae tay.
Rabbie Burns — wha’s he? — a poet frae tha past?
Poems lake his, an’ sangs sae sweet — A cannae see them last.
A dinnae lake oor ain tunge, A hard a boady sae.
Mich betther wae larn English — it’s for tha present deh.
Sure its ony a gutter tunge, ye ken, an’ shud bae pit tae rest.
If oor weans thae niver hard it, sure it’s lakely for tha best.
But a these things ir pairt o’ mae, A tae that boady sae.
Frae tha mists o’ Scotlan’ thae wur brocht, in a noo lang distant deh;
Sae let is cherish tha Guid Book, Rabbie Burns an’ a tha best,
An’ tha Man abain wull surely tak’ care o’ a tha rest.
