The Seamaw and Saint Brendan, by William Hershaw

The Seamaw and Saint Brendan

Fearties and sweirties, we couldnae mak up our minds,

eechie or ochie, whither or no, switheran

tae flep ane wey or t’ither,

sae we walit nae side in the ongaun argiebargie.

Some got on fine wi the Lowan Ane,

fair awaa wi his banter and craic.

He kent us aa by nemme, aye had a kind word.

Ithers had their nebs puit out o jynt

or yin eydent ee on the peckin order.

A puckle jaloused the Gaffer was ower thrawn,

aye threipan that we were awin tae him

since afore thon first lichtlie dawin.

Corrieneukan and colloguin didnae unfankle us

sae we thocht the best wey was tae no turn up

at the halie wappinschaw.

Hindsicht is aisy, but He wha foresaw thundert,

raged anent bidin leal, being gratefou,

daein whit you’re tellt. He cawed us intil buirds.

We got tae hing on tae our wings

but tint angelic rank, whiles the frichtenin dreep

wasnae as faur and sair for us

as for the haurd core rebels.

Nou we flee roun in graceless gyres, thirlt

tae this jaggit stane in a chunteran sea,

scraighan and fechtan, back-biting in Babel,

fedders and fishguts fleean,

slaistert wi the undeemous sharn o the Faa,

trauchlin our fecal sacks o recrimination,

Paradise tint is aye tae the fore in our buird-brain norraes.

Sail awaa fae this wanchancy airt, blessit brither,

keep gaun, haud faurrit aye west, saul-vaiger.

Tak tent - the isle o paice ye seek isnae Heivin-sent.

by William Hershaw