weedin pish-the-beds  -
his fite heid
amang fite heids




weeding dandelions  -
his white head
amongst white heads

on ilka wa
the graffiti
o sodgers' sheddaes




on every wall
the graffiti
of soldiers' shadows

deid moose  -
yince sae blate
the day landlord tae unco fowk




dead mouse  -
once so shy
today host to strangers

furst granbairn  -
crans wappin dosses
ower the hansel




first grandchild  -
swifts tying bows
over the gift

ablow the meypole
she breist-feeds'r bairn
...cosmic wab




below the maypole
she breast-feeds her child
...cosmic web

on the burn
a bricht wattergaw  -
fume o diesel




on the stream
a bright rainbow  -
smell of diesel

it the sushi coonter
sautit braze  -
myndin her tears




at the sushi counter
salted bream  -
remembering her tears

the ferm-wife's washin
stringit atween twa treen  -
braw bloomers




the farm-wife's washing
strung between two trees  -
fine bloomers

his bluid jinks
throuch the vennel's causies
...seelant syncopation




his blood zigzags
through the cobbled alley
...silent syncopation

(FOR CHET BAKER)

cowpin the rose
tae snowk  -
plowt o rainwatter




tipping the rose
to smell  -
cascade of rainwater