Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OUR LOCAL SCENERY, by JANET HAMILTON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OUR LOCAL SCENERY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Smoorin' wi' reek an' blackened wi' soot
Last Line: Whaur drinkin' an' swearin' nae mair wad molest.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson
Subject(s): Alcoholism & Alcoholics; Drinks & Drinking; Drunkards; Alcohol Abuse; Wine


SMOORIN' wi' reek an' blackened wi' soot,
Lowin' like Etna an' Hecla to boot,
Ought o' our malleables want ye to learn?—
There's chappin' an' clippin' an' sawin' o' airn;
Burnin' an' sotterin', reengin' an' knockin';
Scores o' puir mortals roastin' and chokin'.
Gizzen'd an' dry ilka thrapple and mouth,
Like cracks in the yird in a het simmer drouth;
They're prayin', puir chiels, for what do you think?
It's no daily bread, it's drink, "Gi'e us drink!"
"Callan," quo' I, "ye maun rin like a hatter,
Bring up twa pails fu' o' clear caller water;
Be aff, noo, ye imp! come back at a canter,
Keep oot o' the store, or I'll fell ye instanter!"
Wae on the store an' the publican's bar,
It's no a haet better—sometimes it's waur;
Men, when they're het, hoo they sweat an' they swear,
Coup up the whisky and toom down the beer.
While droonin' their brains an' toomin' their purses
The verra air rings wi' oaths an' wi' curses.
It's no juist a pay or an orra bit fuddle—
Aft in a day they guzzle an' muddle.
The puir wifie says there's little comes till her
It's the drink, it's the drink that licks up the siller.
Licks up the siller! wha is't that can count,
Reckon an' add up the fearfu' amount,
Wasted on drink at ilk airn-makin' station—
Drink, ever drink, the curse o' our nation?
An' oh, siccan Sabbaths! oh, siccan weans!
Rantin' an' playin' an castin' o' stanes.
Hearken, thae toddlin' bit things, hoo they swear;
Had I wings like a doo I wadna be here—
I wad flee far awa' an' seek oot a rest
Whaur drinkin' an' swearin' nae mair wad molest.





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