|
Scottish Names
by
Raymond Vattese
Read by Marilyn Wright
Click
here to listen to this in RealAudio
I love the names o Scotland:
Ecclefechan, Auchenblae,
Fordoun, Gourdon, Forfar, Kirkcudbright,
Dunnichen, Echt, Panadram, Drumtochty,
and wha could ignore Auchtermuchty?
I love the names o Scotland:
hoo they dirl thro me, the stounds
o consonants, nieves o soonds
that dunt on the map; ilka ane redoonds
wi stickit pride: these are my boonds!
I love the names o Scotland:
Friockheim, Fettes, Pittenweem, Pitcaithly,
Dunnottar, Dunfermline, Aberdower, Invertay,
Catterline, Corstorphine, Craigmillar, Cruden Bay,
and wha could ignore Clachnaharry?
I love the names o Scotland:
hoo e'en the prosaic is owreset
intil a ferlie ye canna forget,
tho it's aiblins but a place whaur burns aince met
or a wee wuid fort wis, and is yet,
but only in his name. Oor past's
chairted for us, oor history's here,
in Balmaha, Birnam, Dunblane, Ardersier;
the names clash oot, tirl on the ear,
and wha could ignore braw Durisdeer?
I love the names o Scotland,
the names that are oors, and tho Wounded Knee
is fine and fair and sad, it's no Fyvie,
and gin Montrose, whaun I dee, winna hae me:
bury my hairt in the cricket-pitch o Freuchie!
|
