Impossible Gifties 8: Poem by Sheena Blackhall

for Gift 8: Cap and Gloves — Scottish Poetry Library

Gifties

I wad gie a cloak o the wud bee’s fur

The wings frae a jenny wren

Tae shakk the mools frae the yirdy kist

That’s happen the neist step ben

I wad sow the grun wi the norlan stars

Reap waves far the burnies shift

Gin I cud boo at the moo o daith

Thon dark kist lid tae lift

For jist ae teet at fit’s lyin there

Ayont the warld’s sairs

I’d rype the reid frae the robin’s breist

Beard cats in their Heilan lairs

Thon kist… is’t stappit wi kith an kin

An the joy at the eyn o wytin?

Or is it teem… an the mools a swick

An daith bit a new braith kythin?

© Sheena Blackhall 2012