Back an forrit atween the turrets ο the Central Library
a wheen ο halliket herring gulls gae soopan an skreichan
wi a din like tae wauk the deid. Their littluns, teeteran
alang the ledges, watch fair bumbazed, as grown-ups
jouk an weave an tummle catmaw through the air.
Tak tent, tak tent, nae second chancies here,
nae canny rocks tae divie aff, nae seaweed slides
tae safety. Ye’ll only need tae hyter aince
an doun ye’ll blatter on the tap ο Rabbie’s heid.
But gin ye think life’s easier for me
tak a bit keek owre. That’s me, joukan atween thae
double deck buses, wishan tae hell I had wings.
1991
This is yer Muse talkin.
Ye’re on yer final warnin.
Nae mair sclatchin i the kitchen,
nae mair hingin out the washin,
nae mair stour soukin.
This is yer Muse talkin
fae the wyste paper basket.
makin weemin poets.
2000
forrit: forward; atween: between;
wheen: several; halliket: wild and
noisy; soopan: sweeping; skreichan:
screeching; wauk: wake; bumbazed:
confused; jouk: dodge; tummle
catmaw: somersault; tak tent: take
care; hyter: stumble; blatter: clatter;
keek: glance
sclatchin: messing about
stour soukin: sweeping up (hoovering);
wyste: waste;
kent: knew