SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 645 Title : Dipper: 33 - The Feather Author(s): John Reid Copyright holder(s): John Reid Text For days the storm had raired ootbye, Birlin craws across the sky Scatterin wrack alang the shore An fellin fir-trees by the score. The storm was ower, the morn was still, I tuik the auld road tae the hill Whaur wind-kaimed gress gied wey tae heather, An there I fand a queer-like feather. I ken maist birds, but this wee heckle Had come frae something mair kenspeckle Than ocht I kenned - some fremit bird Blawn tempest-tossed frae some faur airt. Wi heuk an threid an fingers slee I turned that feather tae a flee - A flee I fished through ae troot season, A flee that near tint me my reason. For ilka troot I cast it ower Tuik it wi ne'er a second glower, Big or wee, it didna maitter, I could hae herriet every watter. I slauchtered troot till I was stawed, I felt like smashin reel an rod, Until ae day I burnt that flee Frae its fell curse tae set me free. An nou I fish as aince I did, Dependent on the fish's tid, Kennin my flees micht tak a troot, But wi the issue aye in doot! ___ wind-kaimed/wind-combed heckle/neck-feather kenspeckle/conspicuous slee/skilled stawed/sickened This work is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The SCOTS Project and the University of Glasgow do not necessarily endorse, support or recommend the views expressed in this document. Information about document and author: Text Text audience General public: Audience size: 1000+ Text details Method of composition: Handwritten Year of composition: 1989 Word count: 212 General description: Anthology of prizewinning and other Scots poems, and short stories in Ayrshire Scots. Text medium Book: Radio: Other: Audiocassette Text publication details Published: Publisher: Luath Press Publication year: 1991 Place of publication: Barr, Ayrshire ISBN/ISSN: 0946487227 Edition: First Part of larger text: Contained in: The Dipper an the Three Wee Deils: Tales and Poems in Ayrshire Scots Editor: Authors: Dr. J. A. Begg and J. Reid Page numbers: 85 Text setting Leisure/entertainment: Private/personal: Text type Poem/song/ballad: Author Author details Author id: 738 Forenames: John Surname: Reid Gender: Male Decade of birth: 1910 Educational attainment: University Age left school: 17 Upbringing/religious beliefs: Protestantism Occupation: Retired Head Teacher Place of birth: Dalry Region of birth: N Ayr Birthplace CSD dialect area: Ayr Country of birth: Scotland Place of residence: Lockerbie Region of residence: Dumfries and Galloway Residence CSD dialect area: Dmf Country of residence: Scotland Father's occupation: Commmercial Traveller Father's place of birth: Dalry Father's region of birth: N Ayr Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: Ayr Father's country of birth: Scotland Mother's occupation: Housewife Mother's place of birth: Beith Mother's region of birth: N Ayr Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Ayr Mother's country of birth: Scotland Languages: Language: English Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Home, socially Language: French Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: As necessary Language: Scots Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Home, socially