English poem
The Fause Knight Upon The Road
by Frank Sidgwick (1879–1939)
1. ‘O whare are ye gaun?’ Quo the fause knicht upon the road: ‘I’m gaun to the scule,’ Quo’ the wee boy, and still he stude.
2. ‘What is that upon your back?’ ‘Atweel it is my bukes.’
3. ‘What’s that ye’ve got in your arm?’ ‘Atweel it is my peit.’
4. ‘Wha’s aucht they sheep?’ ‘They’re mine and my mither’s.’
5. ‘How monie o’ them are mine?’ ‘A’ they that hae blue tails.’
6. ‘I wiss ye were on yon tree:’ ‘And a gude ladder under me.’
7. ‘And the ladder for to break:’ ‘And you for to fa’ down.’
8. ‘I wiss ye were in yon sie:’ ‘And a gude bottom under me.’
9. ‘And the bottom for to break:’ ‘And ye to be drowned.’
[Annotations: 2.2: ‘Atweel,’ = I wot well, truly. 3.2: ‘peit,’ peat, carried to school to contribute to the fire. 4.1: ‘Wha’s aucht,’ who owns.]