The Scots Independent Newspaper Online

Flying the Flag

Just after New Year my wife and I had a very pleasant week in Tenerife; we would have liked to stay longer but I had to return to put together the February Scots Independent, not a course of action which makes me universally popular at home.

We flew from Edinburgh, and the travel agent, Belford Travel in Livingston, arranged the flight with one company, the hotel with another, taxis to and from the airport in Tenerife, and back up in Tenerife in case of any problems; the result was problem free – this was classed as a tailor made holiday. We stayed at the Barcelo Santiago, in Puerto de Santiago, next to Los Gigantes, and the weather was great; the holiday was reasonably uneventful, but I did bump into an expatriate at the bus stop near the hotel, who wanted to buy my Scotland baseball cap. I declined as I needed it for my bald head.

My wife was not in the least bit surprised when I went more than once to the same supermarket, where I got, as the illustration shows – “The Bag with the Flag”; maybe I should have directed the expat (from Dumbarton) to the shop – better than a hankie on his head. The national flag of Tenerife is the Saltire, but they also fly the Spanish flag, a bit like Scotland in a way, except that they have a great lump of the Atlantic Ocean to protect them.

So holiday over, back to the SI – now sent to the printers, the Flag, and a by election.

Dunfermline and West Fife by Election

This has been called for 9th February; it seems to be rather unseemly haste after the sad death of Rachel Squires, and they actually moved the writ in the House of Commons before they had selected a candidate. The New Labour candidate, since selected, is currently a Member of the European Parliament and is expecting a baby in March; whether the baby is brought up in London, Brussels or Strasbourg will be decided on 9th February. A memorial service for the late MP will be held in Dunfermline Abbey on the Friday before the poll, and the Westminster Cabinet is expected to attend, but surely not even New Labour would attempt to make political capital out of that?

Douglas Chapman I paid my first visit to the campaign on Monday this week; there was a lot of SNP activity there, despite the very cold weather. I was out “knocking in” questionnaires with a lady from Kirriemuir; she did not have a car, but had taken the bus from Kirriemuir to Dundee, and then a bus from Dundee to Dunfermline. She was going back to Kirriemuir the same way the same day, and coming back again later in the week; puts to shame some of our fair weather activists from the Central Belt (including me).

Our candidate is Douglas Chapman, who lives in Dunfermline; Douglas contested the seat at the General Election, and was previously a councillor in Rosyth. We are running from a shop in Dunfermline and a house in Kincardine on Forth at the other end of the constituency; the house is that of Denholm Christie, Secretary of the Scots Independent, so the paper is well represented. The campaign is being run by Tony Grahame and Stefan Tymkewycz, who have been very successful in running local authority by elections.

While I was in the rooms we had a visit from a Labour activist from out of town; he did not know where the Labour rooms were, so he came and asked us. All very civilised, and he was directed to the right place; let us hope he is not so kindly disposed toward us after 9th February.

Dunfermline and West Fife Prospects

So what are the prospects for Dunfermline and West Fife? The Liberals, who came second last time around, beating us by 500 votes, are claiming it is a two horse race between them and Labour; they also did this at the Livingston by election in September last year, and they came a poor third. After that by election I wrote: “Charles Kennedy has a good image, as a sane, reasonable chap, no like a politician at all, but the Liberals are not happy with his image, and want to turn him into pretentious, po faced gravitas, looking like a potential Prime Minister. The people are starting to see through them.”

Forth Road Bridge Well, they didn’t turn Charles Kennedy into anything, they turned him out, victim of a vicious campaign. Yes, he did have a drink problem, would not admit to it, “in denial” as the definition goes, and then made a public confession; this earned the admiration of many, but the hyenas closed in. This treatment of their most gifted politician was appalling; and then the silent detractors put themselves forward to lead the Liberals. The subsequent fall from grace of another of their stars, Mark Oaten, is much more reprehensible; he invited the cameras into his home, prostituting his wife and two young children in pursuit of his own career, while all the time he was having an adulterous relationship with either one or two male prostitutes. Hypocrisy at its highest, or lowest, as the case might be.

Minutes of a meeting of senior Liberal MPs at Westminster, pinned on Alex Salmond’s notice board, show that they have accepted that the very best they can hope for in Dunfermline and West Fife is to try an beat the SNP into second place; I don’t mind them being in second place – if we are in first! Anyway, their party hierarchy are more concerned with damage limitation, and have stabbed their own candidate in the back; he knows that he can expect only meaningless assurance of support from the centre.

As far as the Tories are concerned, they will also be talking up a good game, yet again, now they can brandish their equivalent of Charles Kennedy, looks and sounds good; remind me of one of the late Donald Stewart’s tales of American Presidents (of which he had a rich supply). I can’t remember which particular President this was but the quotation was: (supply whichever President you like) “Bush don’t say much, but when he does speak - he don’t say much.” However, in case they get a bit uppity, perhaps we should remind them of how they transferred jobs from Rosyth to Devonport on the south coast of England (Malcolm Rifkind, if I remember correctly) on the pretext that it would save the taxpayer money. In fact, it was to buy votes in Devonport, and the cost of converting Devonport to service Trident submarines was astronomical, millions of taxpayers’ money squandered, and old rusting, leaking nuclear submarines left at Rosyth.

Labour have started themselves on a wee stramash about the Forth Road Bridge; the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (a daft name as we don’t have estuaries in Scotland – only firths) by a majority of Labour and Liberal councillors, decided that to cut back on congestion, tolls on the Bridge should go up to £4.00 – from £1.00. The Scottish Executive were considering this, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, MP for Kirkcaldy, said that this increase was being abandoned. He has no jurisdiction over Forth Road Bridge tolls – it has nothing to do with him – apart from the fact that there is a by election in Fife; the Scottish Executive had already decided that they would be undecided until after the by election, and then they would put them up, but the Chancellor has behaved ultra vires. The red rose has a red face, as both sides try to pretend they are singing from the same hymn sheet, but the fur is flying.

Foot in the Mouth Notes

Rather intrigued at a written question in the House of Commons concerning the succession to the Dukedom of Leinster; I do not know if the Duke of Leinster sat in the House of Lords, as Leinster is the ancient name for that part of Ireland which includes Dublin, and should have no relevance to the British state.

The question was asked by a Scottish Labour MP, showing how little they have to do.

The indefatigable Andrew J T Kerr has sent me this cutting from the Guardian of 20 Jan 06 : “The United Kingdom Football Association national team has qualified for the 18th World Cup finals,” declares Franz Beckenbauer.

“O wad some Power the giftie gie us,
To see oursels as ithers see us.”

Nicola Sturgeon In a TV programme after the publication of the Arbuthnott Report on voting systems in Scotland, the Labour MP for Livingston, speaking with all the authority of 3 months service in the House of Commons, in best dinosaur fashion,was berating Nicola Sturgeon, who is a list MSP; Nicola had contested Glasgow Govan and been defeated by the current Labour MSP, Gordon Jackson, so had no right to be in the Scottish Parliament,according to him.

Nicola quietly pointed out that the voting system was the one invented by Labour and the Liberals, and nothing to do with the SNP; she might have also said that the Labour MSP for Govan is too busy earning £250,000 a year plus, and is never in the Parliament to represent Govan.

The Scots Guards are to be returned to Iraq for the second time in six months because the English battalion due to go there is tied up guarding royal palaces and will be required for the Queen’s birthday parade; 8% of Britain’s infantry is tied up with ceremonial duties.

You couldn’t make that up.

Away back in the bad old Tory days, they came up with a good wheeze to make the unemployment figure look better; they made it difficult for people to claim unemployment benefit, so invented a new one “incapacity benefit”.

Now the New Tories, sorry New Labour, have a problem with the vast numbers on incapacity benefit; the lights are burning in Whitehall as they frantically search for a new definition. The law of unintended consequences strikes again!

Ceannaichibh taigh - faighibh peinnsean

Deagh phlana aig an riaghaltas ann an Lunnainn a thaobh pheinnsean nach e? Faodaidh daoine dàrna taigh a cheannach (abair -anns a’ Ghàidhealtachd?) mar phàirt de na peinnseanan aca agus gheibh iad sochairean cìse. Chan eil fios agam carson nach tàinig cuideigin suas leis a’ phlana roimhe. Chan fheum sinn ach coimhead air na bailtean falamh anns a’ gheamhradh a bhith mothachail gu bheil droch fheum againn air tuilleadh taighean samhraidh. Cumaidh iad rudan mi-sgiobalta mar dhaoine às na h-àiteachan bòidheach, agus ma lìonas sibh an SUV agaibh le biadh mus tig sibh air làithean-saora cha bhi e gu diofar nach bi bùth air fhàgail san sgìre. Gu nàdarra thog na Nàiseantaich gearan - mar sin feumaidh gu bheil am polasaidh ceart; ach mura bi bheir an riaghaltas sùil eile air.

‘S e ceist a th’ ann dè ‘n slat-tomhais a chleachdas iad. An ann nuair a bhios duilgheadasan aig òigridh agus luchd-obrach taighean fhaighinn? O fanaibh, tha sin againn cheana. Saoil am fan iad gus nach bi neach sam bith tighinn beò làn-ùine ann an sgìrean air feadh na Gàidhealtachd? Bhiodh sin gu math cuideachail don riaghlatas ann an Dùn Èideann (riaghaltas? An tuirt mi sin gun ghàire a dhèanamh?). Tha COSLA air a bhith a’ litreachadh a-mach don phrìomhaire gun tuit cùram pearsanta do sheann daoine às-a-chèile as aonais barrachd airgid. Uill nach eil e fortanach gu bheil McConnell cho math air coimhead air adhart ‘s a bha caiptean an Titanic? Ma dh’fhàgas Lunnainn agus e fhèin rudan mar a tha iad cha bhi duine sam bith dhìth air cùram air fhàgail ann an cuid sgìrean, is cha bhi òigridh ann a thoirt seachad co-dhiù. Fuasgladh air an duilgheadas, eh?

Air eagal ‘s gum bi sibh smaointinn gu bheil Jack (beinn-eighe? Dè ‘n bheinn-eighe?) McConnell neo-chomasach agus tuilleadh ‘s lag a bhith an ceann Alba na gabhaibh dragh. Às bith dè their COSLA tha plana aige - plana cho seòlta nam bitheadh earball fada air bhiodh e na mhadadh-ruadh. An àite a bhith a’ cosnadh a phàigheadh cuiridh Jack seachad tòrr ùine bruidhinn air Malawi agus gnothaichean eadar-nàiseanta far nach iarr duine sam bith air co-dhùnadh a dhèanamh a chionn ‘s gun e gnothach Lunnainn a th’ ann an dùthchannan cèine. Seòlta, eh? Chan eil e gu feum sam bith dhuinne ach leigidh e le Jack cluich ann an raon-cluiche nam balach mòra.

Translation - Buy a house - get a pension

Great plan the government in London has regarding pensions isn’t it? People can buy a second house (say - in the Highlands?) as part of their pension and they’ll get tax benefits. I don’t know why no-one has come up with the idea before. You need only look at the empty villages in the winter to be aware that we desperately need more holiday houses. They keep untidy things like people away from beauty spots, and if you fill your SUV with food before going on holiday it won’t matter at all that there’s no shop left in the district. Naturally the Nationalists complained - therefore the policy must be right; but if it isn’t the government will look at it again.

The question is what measure they will use. Will it be when young people and workers have difficulty finding houses? Oh wait, we have that already. I wonder if they’ll wait until no-one at all is living full time in districts throughout the Highlands? That would be very helpful to the government in Edinburgh (government? Did I say that without laughing?). COSLA have been spelling out to the first minister that personal care for the elderly will fall apart without more funding. Well isn’t it fortunate that McConnell is as good at looking ahead as the captain of the Titanic? If he and London leave things as they are there’ll be no-one needing personal care left in some areas, and no young people to give it anyway. Problem solved, eh?

In case you’re thinking that Jack (iceberg? what iceberg?) McConnell is incompetent and too weak to be at Scotland’s head don’t worry. Whatever COSLA says he has a plan - a plan so cunning that if it had a long tail it would be a fox. Instead of earning his pay Jack will spend a lot of time talking about Malawi and international affairs where no-one will ask him to make a decision because foreign affairs are London’s business. Cunning, eh? It’s of no use whatever to us but it lets Jack play in the big boys’ playground.

The Working Life of Linda Fabiani MSP

Click here to read SNP MSP Linda Fabiani's working diary.

SYNOPSIS

I will try this week to give a brief selection from MSPs, MPs and MEPs; they have all been busy.

Tuesday 24 Jan 06

SNP Candidate in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election Douglas Chapman has today called for an action plan to be implemented in the area to offset the jobs lost following the announcement by Lexmark today (Tuesday) that they are to close their factory in Rosyth at the cost of around 700 jobs.

Lexmark, Rosyth Mr Chapman had earlier in the day met with a group of local employers' representatives to discuss their work and changes local businesses would like to see to benefit the local economy.

Mr Chapman was previously the local councillor for the area containing the factory.

Mr Chapman said:

"This is a huge blow to the workforce and to the local economy. We must act now to ensure that the effects of this decision are minimised, and that we plan for the future to strengthen the local economy.

"Rather than adopt the complacent attitude that the British Chancellor has shown to the local economy in the past week, we need a plan to boost the Scottish and local economy and allow us to compete for jobs and investment. Perhaps this announcement will shake off his complacency about the area's above average unemployment rate and the 1599 job losses at Rosyth alone since 1997.

"Fife has lost 7000 in the manufacturing sector since 1988, and so this is yet another blow to the local workforce.

"What we need now is an urgent action plan to protect and attract jobs.

"We must agree a fair deal for Fife with regard to road tolls, and look urgently at improved public transport links to strengthen our competitive position. We need to invest in our transport infrastructure if we are to ensure a positive future for the area.”

Tuesday 24 Jan 06

Speaking after the Government's Green Paper on Benefit Reform was released today, (Tuesday) Mike Weir MP, SNP Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions, said that it left many questions unanswered.

Mike Weir Commenting after the paper was presented to the Commons, Mr Weir said:

"No one would dispute that helping people on incapacity benefit get into work is good - however, the devil is in the detail.

"There is little point in persuading people to prepare for work if there is not suitable jobs for them to go to.

"Many areas have a specific concentration of incapacity claimants and these areas will need assistance from other agencies for economic regeneration if the scheme is to succeed.

"It was noticeable that throughout the statement the Secretary of State referred to better use of existing funds and made no mention of additional funding.

"The good idea may be strangled at the outset by the Treasury's penny pinching."

Tuesday 24th January, 2006

Shadow Finance Minister John Swinney MSP today (Tuesday) urged the Executive and COSLA to reach a credible agreement over the equal pay gap in order to protect council tax payers from further rises.

Mr Swinney said: "The equal pay gap is a major financial problem in local authority finance and unless a credible agreement can be put in place by the Executive and COSLA, council tax payers will face yet more punishment.

"Instead of foghorn diplomacy from the Executive, some dialogue is required to resolve this massive gap and protect council tax payers."

Monday 23rd January

SNP Leader, Alex Salmond MP, has called on Scotland’s broadcasters to raise their game and do more to mark Burns night.

BBC Scotland has only two programmes planned across its TV and radio output for Burns night, one on Radio Scotland and the other on BBC1, while Radio 3 has a single late night offering from the Celtic Connections festival. Scottish, Grampian and Border TV have no programmes planned.

Speaking from Dunfermline, Mr Salmond said: "This year Scots will have more chance to see Pete Burns from Big Brother than Robert Burns on their TV.

"Across Scotland more people than ever before are celebrating Burns Night, with many young Scots now organising their own celebrations, complimenting the excellent Burns Federation festivities.

"At home and abroad, Burns is big news. It seems the only place where our national bard is not flourishing is on Scotland's TV screens.

"Some excellent Burns programmes have been produced over the years, but whatever the quality, a single 40 minute programme on the TV is certainly not enough.

"When tens of thousands of people in countries as diverse as Russia, Canada and South Africa make an effort to celebrate the genius of Robert Burns, surely here in Scotland the organisation charged as our national broadcaster should be doing more.

“Scottish, Grampian and Border are not even making a token attempt to celebrate what once was a highlight of their programme output.
.
"The broadcasters should be reflecting the passion of Scotland today and joining with the many thousands who will be raising a toast to Scotland's finest poet."

Monday – 23rd January 2006

The total revenue generated from Scottish police speed cameras over the past 5 years has reached almost £20m, figures obtained by SNP MSP Christine Grahame has revealed. The figures which came in a parliamentary answer also suggest that Scottish Ministers simply don’t know the level of speeding deaths on Scottish roads despite being in office for nearly 7 years.

Ms Grahame said:

“These figures show a very sharp rise indeed in the revenue being generated by speed cameras. In Strathclyde, where the first Safety Camera Partnership was introduced in 2000/01 the revenue generated from them has risen by 575% over 5 years taking £9.4m from motorists.

"Revenue in the Lothian and Borders force area in the past two years has risen by 76% since 03/04 bringing in a total of £4.1m from the region's motorists.

“Across Scotland revenue from these cameras has risen from £450,000 in 2000/01 to over £8.5m in 04/05, a rise of almost 1800 percent.

“The argument being put forward by police forces is that these cameras are not mere revenue earners but are actually saving lives and so I also asked for figures on the number of deaths on Scottish roads over the same period which were caused as a direct result of speeding. Incredibly Scottish Ministers and the police do not know.”

Friday 20th January, 2006

Commenting on the news that a Scottish Executive funded deal had been concluded to buy-out the Inverness Airport terminal Private Finance Initiative, SNP Shadow Transport Minister Fergus Ewing MSP today (Friday) said:

Fergus Ewing "The building cost £6 million to build yet has cost the taxpayer £46 million to buy back. This was a truly dreadful deal of the worst proportion struck by the Labour government pre-devolution. The consequences being that Inverness Airport has, for the last six years, been unable to compete on level terms with other airports such as Prestwick.

"The money wasted by Labour on the PFI arrangement could and should have been used to fund improvements such as a runway extension, seven day-radar and other work needed to attract more operators such as Ryan Air.

"I shall be asking the Auditor General to investigate the deal and also ask the Minister, Tavish Scott, to publish the Public Sector Comparator report which reveals what the airport should have cost and consequently how much has been wasted.

"The buy-out is yet another failure by this Lib/Lab Executive which taxpayers and the people of the Highlands are already paying too dearly for. We must ensure that such a scandalous waste of public money does not happen again.”

Wed 18 Jan 06

SNP President Ian Hudghton MEP has called for Scotland's politicians to unite in an effort to save vital Scottish fishing grounds. The call comes after the publication in the European Parliament of a series of texts aimed at abolishing the Shetland Box, an area of protected waters around the north of Scotland and the Northern Isles. The texts, tabled by MEPs from the Spanish Socialist party and the Spanish Popular Party, will be voted upon at the end of this month. Spanish boats are currently prohibited from fishing in the Shetland Box.

Ian Hudghton Mr Hudghton said: "The massive Spanish fleet is always on the lookout for new waters to fish - and they are desperate to get into Scotland's northern waters. Experience has shown that Spain's politicians are extremely effective at getting their way in European fisheries negotiations and this latest attack gives major cause for concern.

"Scotland's politicians must show a similar unity in purpose if we are to save these Scottish waters for future generations. I have tabled a number of texts highlighting the importance of these waters to Scottish communities. I hope that my Scottish colleagues can get behind these texts and see off this threat to our fishing industry.

"Ireland's fishing industry was faced with a similar threat three years ago in relation to the protected box around Irish waters. At that time Irish politicians from all parties united to save their fishing industry - and ultimately won a good deal. Scotland's politicians must follow this Irish example and ensure a future for our northern coastal communities".

Gordon & Carmen Wright

Second-hand, Fine & Rare Scottish Books.

Regular catalogues issued by email. To subscribe, email us at: Gordon.Wright11@btopenworld.com

Gordon Wright’s Scottish Photo Library

Spanning forty-five years and featuring a wide variety of illustrations in colour and black and white covering all aspects of Scottish life from Orkney to the Border country. Thousands of personality portraits.

Images for reproduction. Prints for collectors.

Gordon.Wright11@btopenworld.com

27 January 1783
The Glasgow Advertiser, forerunner of The Glasgow Herald, was first published.

28 January 2005
Scott Harrison retained the WBO featherweight title after a hard fought 12 round draw with Colombian challenger Victor Polo at the Braehead Arena.

30 January 1961
Death of John Duncan Fergusson, artist, one of major figures in the development of 20^th century art in Scotland, in Glasgow.

31 January 1761
Lachlan Macquarie, an army officer who became Governor of New South Wales (1809) and was known as the ‘Father of Australia’, was born on the Isle of Ulva, off Mull.

21 January 1919
Known as ‘Bloody Friday’ some forty people were injured when the ’40 Hours’ strikers clashed with riot police in George Square, Glasgow. Troops were sent to suppress what was seen to be a ‘Bolshevist rising’ and by next morning six tanks and one hundred army lorries were in the streets of Glasgow. Strike leaders Willie Gallacher and Emmanuel Shinwell were arrested and convicted of incitement and received short prison sentences.

31 January 2005
Kevin Anderson, Buckhaven, won the inaugural Celtic welterweight title with a 4^th round stoppage of Northern Ireland’s Glenn McClarnon at the St Andrews Sport Club in Glasgow.

1 February 2005
90-yeart-old John Panton, seventy years after he first entered the golf professional ranks as a teenager in 1935, became only the 5^th Scot to be made an honorary life member of the European Tour. He joined Bernard Gallacher, Colin Montgomerie, Sandy Lyle and Paul Lawrie in the European elite of lifetime members.

2 February 1746
A Jacobite Council held in the Drummond Arms Inn, Crieff, decided to retreat north in three columns and to rendezvous in the neighbourhood of Inverness. The Council saw a widening of the gulf between Prince Charles Edward Stewart and Jacobite commander Lord George Murray.

See Dates in History in our Features Section

SCOTTISH QUOTATIONS

I like to have quotations ready for every occasions - they give one's ideas so pat and save one the trouble of finding expression adequate to one's feeling.

Robert Burns

We continue our new Feature in this section of the Flag - Scottish Quotations - statements in prose and verse which reflect all aspects of Scottish life and outlook from the 14^th century to the present day. New quotes added every week. The quotations are not restricted to native Scots but include observations from abroad which help us, in the words of our National Bard, Robert Burns, "To see oursels as others see us!

Robert Burns (1759-1796)

In days when mankind were but callans;
At grammar, logic, an’ sic talents,
They took nae pains their speech to balance,
Or rules to gie;
But spak their thoughts in plain, braid Lallans,
Like you or me.

(To William Simpson of Ochiltree, May 1785)

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1892)

His (Robert Burns) muse and teaching was common sense, joyful, aggressive, irrisistable. Not Latimer nor Luther struck more telling blows against false theology than did this brave singer. The Confession of Augsburg, the Declaration of Independence, the French Rights of Man, and the Marseillaise, are not more weighty documents in the history of freedom than the songs of Robert Burns. His satire has lost none of its edge. His musical arrows yet sing through the air. He is so substantially a reformer that I find his grand plain sense in close chain with the greatest masters, - Rabelais, Shakespeare in comedy, Cervantes, Butler and Burns, If I could add another name, I find it only in a living country-man of Burns.

(Speech delivered at the celebration of the Burns centenary, Boston, 25 January 1859)

John Robin Jenkins (1912-2005)

Football had taken the place of religion in Scotland.

(A Would-Be Saint, 1978)

Hugh MacDiarmid (Christopher Murray Grieve) (1892-1978)

There are plenty of ruined buildings in the world but no ruined stones.

(On a Raised Beach)

See Scottish Quotations in our Features Section

SING A SANG AT LEAST
(compiled by Peter D Wright)

"That I for poor auld Scotland's sake
Some useful plan or book could make
Or sing a sang at least ........"

- Robert Burns

MY FATHER WAS A FARMER
Robert Burns

Farm Horses

My father was a farmer upon the Carrick border, O,
And carefully he bred me in decency and order, O;
He bade me act a manly part, though I had ne'er a farthing, O;
For without an honest manly heart, no man was worth regarding, O.

Then out into the world my course I did determine, O;
Tho' to be rich was not my wish, yet to be great was charming, O;
My talents they were not the worst, nor yet my education, O:
Resolv'd was I at least to try to mend my situation, O.

In many a way, and vain essay, I courted Fortune's favour, O;
Some cause unseen still stept between, to frustrate each endeavour, O;
Sometimes by foes I was o'erpower'd, sometimes by friends forsaken, O;
And when my hope was at the top, I still was worst mistaken, O.

Then sore harass'd and tir'd at last, with Fortune's vain delusion, O,
I dropt my schemes, like idle dreams, and came to this conclusion, O;
The past was bad, and the future hid, its good or ill untried, O;
But the present hour was in my pow'r, and so I would enjoy it, O.

No help, nor hope, nor view had I, nor person to befriend me, O;
So I must toil, and sweat, and moil, and labour to sustain me, O;
To plough and sow, to reap and mow, my father bred me early, O;
For one, he said, to labour bred, was a match for Fortune fairly, O.

Thus all obscure, unknown, and poor, thro' life I'm doom'd to wander, O,
Till down my weary bones I lay in everlasting slumber, O:
No view nor care, but shun whate'er might breed me pain or sorrow, O;
I live to-day as well's I may, regardless of to-morrow, O.

But cheerful still, I am as well as a monarch in his palace, O,
Tho' Fortune's frown still hunts me down, with all her wonted malice, O:
I make indeed my daily bread, but ne'er can make it farther, O:
But as daily bread is all I need, I do not much regard her, O.

When sometimes by my labour, I earn a little money, O,
Some unforeseen misfortune comes gen'rally upon me, O;
Mischance, mistake, or by neglect, or my goodnatur'd folly, O:
But come what will, I've sworn it still, I'll ne'er be melancholy, O.

All you who follow wealth and power with unremitting ardour, O,
The more in this you look for bliss, you leave your view the farther, O:
Had you the wealth Potosi boasts, or nations to adore you, O,
A cheerful honest-hearted clown I will prefer before you, O.

Footnote: Although the song was probably written earlier, Robert Burns recorded these thoughts on the work in April 1784 –

‘The following song is a wild rhapsody, miserably deficient in versification; but as the sentiments are the genuine feelings of my heart, for that reason I have a particular pleasure in conning it over.’

See the SING A SANG AT LEAST in our features section

RADIO SCOTLAND - SCOTLAND'S FAVOURITE POEM RESULTS

This week we change our usual format to bring you the results of Radio Scotland's listeners choice of most popular Scottish poem. The results were announced on The Radio Cafe on Burns Day 2006.

RESULTS

The Third choice (equal with Hallaig - Sorley MacLean) was

The Wild Geese - Violet Jacob

Click here to listen to the song

I saw the Wild Geese Fly by Jim Reid

"Far abune the Angus straths I saw the wild geese flee; A lang, lang skein o' beatin' wings wi' their heids toward the sea." Set to music by Jim Reid, this was originally written as a poem by Violet Jacob in 1915. The song is also known under the alternative title Norland Wind.
"Oh tell me fit was on yer road ye roarin Norland wind? As ye come blawin frae the land that's never frae ma mind. Ma feet they traivel England but I'm deein for the North." "Ma man, I saw the siller tides rin up the Firth o Forth." "Aye wind, I ken them weel eneuch an fine they fa and rise, And fain I'd feel the creepin mist on yonder shore that lies. But tell me as ye pass them by fit saw ye on the way?" "Ma man, I rocked the rovin gulls that sail abin the Tay." "Bit saw ye naethin leein wind afore ye come tae Fife? For there's muckle lyin 'yont the Tay that's mair tae me nor life." "Ma man, I swept the Angus braes that ye hivna trod for years." "Oh wind, forgie a hameless loon that canna see for tears." "And far abin the Angus straths I saw the wild geese flee, A lang, lang skein o beatin wings wi their heids toward the sea, And aye their cryin voices trailed ahint them on the air." "Oh wind, hae mercy, haud your wheesht for I daurna listen mair."
"Oh tell me fit was on yer road ye roarin Norland wind?
As ye come blawin frae the land that's never frae ma mind.
Ma feet they traivel England but I'm deein for the North."
"Ma man, I saw the siller tides rin up the Firth o Forth."

"Aye wind, I ken them weel eneuch an fine they fa and rise,
And fain I'd feel the creepin mist on yonder shore that lies.
But tell me as ye pass them by fit saw ye on the way?"
"Ma man, I rocked the rovin gulls that sail abin the Tay."

"Bit saw ye naethin leein wind afore ye come tae Fife?
For there's muckle lyin 'yont the Tay that's mair tae me nor life."
"Ma man, I swept the Angus braes that ye hivna trod for years."
"Oh wind, forgie a hameless loon that canna see for tears."

"And far abin the Angus straths I saw the wild geese flee,
A lang, lang skein o beatin wings wi their heids toward the sea,
And aye their cryin voices trailed ahint them on the air."
"Oh wind, hae mercy, haud your wheesht for I daurna listen mair."

You can purchase a CD with this song at Springthyme Records

Listen to this poem read by Marilyn P Wright

Number Two was by Robert Burns - his international song of Brotherhood

A Man's A Man - Robert Burns

Listen to this in Real Audio read by Jim Lynch

Robert Burns

Is there for honest poverty
That hings his head, and a' that?
The coward-slave, we pass him by,
We daur be poor for a' that!
For a' that, and a' that,
Our toils obscure, and a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that!

What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, and a' that;
Gie fools their silks and knaves their wine,
A Man's a Man for a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, and a' that;
The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that!

Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, and stares, and a' that,
Though hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that, and a' that,
His ribband, star and a' that;
The man of independent mind
He looks and laughs at a' that.

A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke and a' that;
But an honest man's abune his might
Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, and a' that,
Their dignities, and a' that;
The pith o' sense and pride o' worth
Are higher rank than a' that!

Then let us pray that come it may,
As come it will for a' that
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
May bear the gree, and a' that.
For a' that, and a' that,
It's comin yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that!

Number One was also by by our National Bard - his incomparable cantraip of a poem, the marvellous narrative tale which has entertained generations for over 200 years, namely

Tam o' Shanter - Robert Burns

Read by Marilyn Wright

You can listen to a Real Audio file of this story here

When chapmen billes leave the street,
And drouthy neebors, neebors meet,
As market days are wearing late,
An' folk begin to tak the gate;
While we sit bousing at the nappy,
And getting fou and unco happy,
We think na on the lang Scots miles,
The mosses, waters, slaps, and styles,
That lie between us and our hame,
Where sits our sulky sullen dame.
Gathering her brows like gathering storm,
Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.

This truth fand honest Tam o' Shanter,
As he frae Ayr ae night did canter,
(Auld Ayr, wham ne'er a town surpasses
For honest men and bonie lasses.)

O Tam! had'st thou but been sae wise,
As ta'en thy ain wife Kate's advice!
She tauld thee weel thou was a skellum,
A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum;
That frae November till October,
Ae market-day thou was nae sober;
That ilka melder, wi' the miller,
Thou sat as lang as thou had siller;
That every naig was ca'd a shoe on,
The smith and thee gat roaring fou on;
That at the L--d's house, even on Sunday,
Thou drank wi' Kirkton Jean till Monday.
She prophesied that late or soon,
Thou would be found deep drown'd in Doon;
Or catch'd wi' warlocks in the mirk,
By Alloway's auld haunted kirk.

Ah, gentle dames! it gars me greet,
To think how mony counsels sweet,
How mony lengthen'd, sage advices,
The husband frae the wife despises!

But to our tale:-- Ae market-night,
Tam had got planted unco right;
Fast by an ingle, bleezing finely,
Wi' reaming swats, that drank divinely
And at his elbow, Souter Johnny,
His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony;
Tam lo'ed him like a vera brither--
They had been fou for weeks thegither!
The night drave on wi' sangs and clatter
And ay the ale was growing better:
The landlady and Tam grew gracious,
wi' favours secret,sweet and precious
The Souter tauld his queerest stories;
The landlord's laugh was ready chorus:
The storm without might rair and rustle,
Tam did na mind the storm a whistle.

Care, mad to see a man sae happy,
E'en drown'd himsel' amang the nappy!
As bees flee hame wi' lades o' treasure,
The minutes wing'd their way wi' pleasure:
Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious.
O'er a' the ills o' life victorious!

But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You sieze the flower, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white--then melts for ever;
Or like the borealis race,
That flit ere you can point their place;
Or like the rainbow's lovely form
Evanishing amid the storm.--
Nae man can tether time or tide;
The hour approaches Tam maun ride;
That hour, o' night's black arch the key-stane,
That dreary hour he mounts his beast in;
And sic a night he taks the road in
As ne'er poor sinner was abroad in.

The wind blew as 'twad blawn its last;
The rattling showers rose on the blast;
The speedy gleams the darkness swallow'd
Loud, deep, and lang, the thunder bellow'd:
That night, a child might understand,
The Deil had business on his hand.

Weel mounted on his gray mare, Meg--
A better never lifted leg--
Tam skelpit on thro' dub and mire;
Despisin' wind and rain and fire.
Whiles holding fast his gude blue bonnet;
Whiles crooning o'er some auld Scots sonnet;
Whiles glowring round wi' prudent cares,
Lest bogles catch him unawares:
Kirk-Alloway was drawing nigh,
Whare ghaists and houlets nightly cry.

By this time he was cross the ford,
Whare, in the snaw, the chapman smoor'd;
And past the birks and meikle stane,
Whare drunken Chairlie brak 's neck-bane;
And thro' the whins, and by the cairn,
Whare hunters fand the murder'd bairn;
And near the thorn, aboon the well,
Whare Mingo's mither hang'd hersel'.--
Before him Doon pours all is floods;
The doubling storm roars thro' the woods;
The lightnings flash from pole to pole;
Near and more near the thunders roll:
When, glimmering thro' the groaning trees,
Kirk-Alloway seem'd in a bleeze;
Thro' ilka bore the beams were glancing;
And loud resounded mirth and dancing.

Inspiring bold John Barleycorn!
What dangers thou canst make us scorn!
Wi' tippeny, we fear nae evil;
Wi' usquabae, we'll face the devil!--
The swats sae ream'd in Tammie's noddle,
Fair play, he car'd na deils a boddle.
But Maggie stood, right sair astonish'd,
Till, by the heel and hand admonish'd,
She ventured forward on the light;
And, wow! Tam saw an unco sight

Warlocks and witches in a dance;
Nae cotillion brent-new frae France,
But hornpipes, jigs strathspeys, and reels,
Put life and mettle in their heels.
A winnock-bunker in the east,
There sat auld Nick, in shape o' beast;
A towzie tyke, black, grim, and large,
To gie them music was his charge:
He scre'd the pipes and gart them skirl,
Till roof and rafters a' did dirl.--
Coffins stood round, like open presses,
That shaw'd the dead in their last dresses;
And by some develish cantraip slight,
Each in its cauld hand held a light.--
By which heroic Tam was able
To note upon the haly table,
A murders's banes in gibbet-airns;
Twa span-lang, wee, unchristen'd bairns;
A thief, new-cutted frae a rape,
Wi' his last gasp his gab did gape;
Five tomahawks, wi blude red-rested;
Five scymitars, wi' murder crusted;
A garter, which a babe had strangled;
A knife, a father's throat had mangled,
Whom his ain son o' life bereft,
The gray hairs yet stack to the heft;
Wi' mair o' horrible and awfu',
Which even to name was be unlawfu'.
Three lawyers' tongues, turn'd inside out,
Wi' lies seam'd like a beggar's clout;
Three priests' hearts, rotten, black as muck,
Lay stinking, vile in every neuk.

As Tammie glowr'd, amaz'd, and curious,
The mirth and fun grew fast and furious;
The piper loud and louder blew;
The dancers quick and quicker flew;
They reel'd, they set, they cross'd, they cleekit,
Till ilka carlin swat and reekit,
And coost her duddies to the wark,
And linket at it her sark!

Now Tam, O Tam! had thae been queans,
A' plump and strapping in their teens,
Their sarks, instead o' creeshie flannen,
Been snaw-white seventeen hunder linnen!
Thir breeks o' mine, my only pair,
That ance were plush, o' gude blue hair,
I wad hae gi'en them off my hurdies,
For ae blink o' the bonie burdies!

But wither'd beldams, auld and droll,
Rigwoodie hags wad spean a foal,
Louping and flinging on a crummock,
I wonder did na turn thy stomach!

But Tam kend what was what fu' brawlie:
There was ae winsome wench and waulie,
That night enlisted in the core,
Lang after ken'd on Carrick shore;
(For mony a beast to dead she shot,
And perish'd mony a bonie boat,
And shook baith meikle corn and bear,
And kept the country-side in fear.)
Her cutty-sark, o' Paisley harn
That while a lassie she had worn,
In longitude tho' sorely scanty,
It was her best, and she was vauntie,-
Ah! little ken'd thy reverend grannie,
That sark she coft for he wee Nannie,
Wi' twa pund Scots, ('twas a' her riches),
Wad ever grac'd a dance of witches!

But here my Muse her wing maun cour;
Sic flights are far beyond her pow'r;
To sing how Nannie lap and flang,
(A souple jade she was, and strang),
And how Tam stood, like ane bewitch'd,
And thought his very een enrich'd;
Even Satan glowr'd, and fidg'd fu' fain,
And hotch'd and blew wi' might and main;
Till first ae caper, syne anither,
Tam tint his reason ' thegither,
And roars out, "Weel done, Cutty-sark!"
And in an instant all was dark:
And scarcely had he Maggie rallied,
When out the hellish legion sallied.

As bees bizz out wi' angry fyke,
When plundering herds assail their byke;
As open pussie's mortal foes,
When, pop! she starts before their nose;
As eager runs the market-crowd,
When "Catch the thief!" resounds aloud;
So Maggie runs, the witches follow,
Wi' mony an eldritch skriech and hollo.

Ah, Tam! ah, Tam! thou'll get thy fairin'!
In hell they'll roast thee like a herrin'!
In vain thy Kate awaits thy commin'!
Kate soon will be a woefu' woman!
Now, do thy speedy utmost, Meg,
And win the key-stane o' the brig;
There at them thou thy tail may toss,
A running stream they dare na cross.
But ere the key-stane she could make,
The fient a tail she had to shake!
For Nannie, far before the rest,
Hard upon noble Maggie prest,
And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle;
But little wist she Maggie's mettle -
Ae spring brought off her master hale,
But left behind her ain gray tail;
The carlin claught her by the rump,
And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.

No, wha this tale o' truth shall read,
Ilk man and mother's son take heed;
Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd,
Or cutty-sarks run in your mind,
Think! ye may buy joys o'er dear -
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mare.

You can listen to a Real Audio file of this story here

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A KIST O FERLIES
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