treen merkit wi an X  -
neist year
nae freenly shed




trees marked with an X  -
next year
no friendly shade

craw risps
an edge tae the mornin  -
the jakie glowers




crow rasps
an edge to the morning  -
the wino glares

drauchts
throuch the auld hoose  -
ghaists appenin doors  




drafts
through the old house  -
ghosts opening doors

a reid tash spreidin  -
his drapt jaur
o ladylanders




a red stain spreading  -
his dropped jar
of ladybirds

they pynt tae a stern:
her deid dug  -
whilk stern wull they pick fir me?




they point to a star:
her dead dog  -
which star will they choose for me?

auld tarry-breeks
in's shooglin cherr
myndin the ocean




old sailor
in his rocking chair
remembering the ocean

days o weet  -
snail-pooer
on the muive




days of rain  -
snail-power
on the move

youthie craw
greitin fir mait  -
reid o's craig




young crow
crying for food  -
red of his throat

hauflins
pluffin thayr e-fags
...here be draigons!




youths
puffing their e-cigarettes
...here be dragons!

jyner's fooneral  -
a life cleedin timmer
the day timmer cleeds him




joiner's funeral  -
a life dressing timber
today timber dresses him

nebbin a stieve souch
they aye heeld forrit
...weir memorial




facing a stiff breeze
they still lean forward
...war memorial

in french perks
thrissels growe
...seeds frae hame




in french fields
thistles grow
...seeds from home

(THE SOMME 100 YEARS ON)

eenin dander  -
soond o
runchin snails




evening stroll  -
sound of
crunching snails

nems aye thair
on the tree  -
the hert swallin




initials still there
on the tree  -
the heart swelling

schuil sports-day  -
the swith o fuit
ootrinnin the weet




school sports-day  -
the fleet of foot
outrunning the rain

faither's day  -
yin hunkers on the plainstanes
weet fouin's Tassie




father's day  -
one sits on the pavement
rain filling his cup

bygaun the  winnock
a fou muin peeps in
...smirkin




passing the window
a full moon peers in
...smiling

slidderin athort
the ice-rink winnock  -
snail




sliding across
the ice-rink window  -
snail

happin'm in's
Kirstenin mantie
...cumulus cluds




wrapping him
in his Christening shawl
...cumulus clouds

juist anither fursday  -
weet stapt, burds chirmin,
a life-hauder turnt aff




just another thursday  -
rain stopped, birds singing,
a life-support switched off