Roond ai Harbour

[Murchiemannie]

By W.T.Lyall

Walkin' roond ai harbour an' my thouchts goin' back afar
no much hustle bustle lek id' wis afore ai war
no chatter o' ai fisher fowk, no kerts---chuist motor cars
walkin' roond ai harbour an' my thochts goin' back afar.

I cood walk across Week Harbour, richt oor 'till ai steam shed
I mind twa hunder drifters tryin' till land fit catch they hed,
but now thurs no a herring tail and drifters long since fled
I cood walk across Week Harbour richt oor 'till ai steam boat shed.

I can mind ai crankin' winches an ai baskets lippin' fill
an boygies stanin' neath ai jibs 'till catch fit herrin spilled
then scaff ade roon' ai backside if they beit ai scorries till'd
I can mind ai crankin' winches an' ai baskets lippin' fill.

I can mind ai wifies guttin' till thur clootie fingers bleed
an' piled up herring barrels oot as far's ae lifeboat shed
but now thur's piles o' sand an' muck an' tetrapods instead
I can mind ai wifies guttin' 'till their clootie fingers bleed.

I can mind ai kerts an' larries rattlin' up ai long Shore Rod
loded up wi' herring that wis packed an' sent abroad
but now ade takes them a' thur time 'till sell a box o' cod
I can mind ai kerts and larries rattlin' up ae long Shore Rod.

Walkin' roond ai harbour I can mind ade all so clear
fit happened till ai herring trade we worked for many years
when I see ai lonely boulards, the fishin' sounds I hear,
walkin' roond ai harbour I mind ade all so clear


Came across this poem by W Lyall recently and thought you might like to share his humour which I thought was v- good when it came to dialect poems.

[Kingetter]

I cannot comment on the 'language', but the content (once I'd read through it more than once) is of interest, and I personally would be glad to see more work with a 'local flavour' posted here. So much poetry is much better heard when read aloud by a good speaker. I think this piece would certainly be.