Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A WHEEN AUL' MEMORIES: 3. SIMMERLEE, by JANET HAMILTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A WHEEN AUL' MEMORIES: 3. SIMMERLEE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Noo, neebors, ance mair, wi' my stick I' my haun'
Last Line: An' his titties lang mourn't the fate o' their brither.
Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson
Subject(s): Change; Past


Noo, neebors, ance mair, wi' my stick i' my haun'
I'll tak' to the road—to the northward I'm gaun',
For that was the airt I best liket to gang
Ere the cares o' this wearifu' warl' grew thrang.

Oot-ower the auld brig, up to sweet Simmerlee,
Sweet, said ye?—hech, whaur?—for nae sweetness I see;
Big lums spewin' reek an' red lowe on the air,
Steam snorin' an' squeelin', and whiles muckle mair!

Explodin' an' smashin' an' crashin', an' then
The wailin' o' women an' groanin' o' men,
A' scowther't an' mangle't, sae painfu' to see—
The sweetness is gane, noo it's black Simmerlee.

It was sweet Simmerlee in the days o' langsyne,
Whan through the wa' trees the white biggin' wad shine,
An' its weel-tentit yardie was pleasant to see,
An' its bonny green hedges and gowany lea.

I min' weel the time when a bonny young bride,
Cam' to sweet Simmerlee mony years there to bide,
An' a flock o' fair bairnies grew up roun' her there:
The dearest was gallant young Donald, the heir.

Oh! wha wad hae thocht sic a fate wad betide
Young Donald, wha perish't that nicht on the Clyde,
When the knell o' the Comet rang far owre the wave,
An' she sank like a stane—there was nocht that could save!

There was greetin' an' sabbin' in sweet Simmerlee,
An' the dule an' the sorrow war waesome to see,
For Donald he was the ae son o' his mither,
An' his titties lang mourn't the fate o' their brither.





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