i the tuim herth

a vause o reid roses

bleezin

in the empty hearth

a vase of red roses

blazing

 aw day feidin

as brithers an sisterss dae  -

it nicht she caums's dreid

all day feuding

as brothers and sisters do  -

at night she calms his fears

heatwave  -

on the steekit hingers

the maple's sheddae show

heatwave  -

on the closed curtains

the maple's shadow show

bund in a bolero

the dauncers  -  hertbrak an luve

in a pickle notes

bound in a bolero

the dancers  -  heartbreak and love

in a few notes

(For Abdullah Ibrahim)

i the muinlicht

a speengie rose

... pooder puff

in the moonlight

a peony rose

...powder puff

on a cairpet o claver

bummers

tummlin fou

on a carpet of clover

bees

tumbling drunk

cran 

hurlin

on's ain helter skelter

swift

riding

on his own shelter skelter

amang the scrogs

twa bonnie blae een  -

blawort

in the undergrowth

two beautiful blue eyes  -

cornflowers

the peerie snail

sclims the harlt was  -

maun be lik keelhaulin

the little snail

climbs the roughcast wall  

must be like keelhauling

thoumie  -

jinkin an joukin

unveesible blaws

wren  -

ducking and dodging

invisible blows