To celebrate World Poetry Day here is Valerie Gillies On Drowsy Brae
On Drowsy Brae
‘Whit are ye daein here, on Drowsy Brae?
Letting the gress grow aneath ye, in amang
this saft brome, weel-kenned as sleepies?’
Forwandert, we’re doverin ower,
takkin a rip o pluff-gress for a pillow
whaur it is nid-nod-nodding.
Oor darg maks us sair forfochten
and taigled wi aa the chainges,
we’ve lain doon, tyke-tired.
We’ll streek oor length on Drowsy Brae
for that’ll keep oor banes green.
We’ll sleep as soond as a peerie.
We’ll mind o this, when we wauken,
oor fowk were aye made o gress,
bairns o the yird an o the universe.

forwandert, weary with wandering
doverin ower, falling asleep
pluff-gress, Yorkshire fog
darg, work
sair forfochten, exhausted
taigled, tired, harassed
tyke-tired, dog-tired
yird, earth
From the collaboration When the grass dances