This poem wis written bi Alan McClure as pairt o Open Books’ Scots Creative Writing workshop:
As ah walked oot aroun the watter
a great stramash assailed ma een
Twa pheasants focht, wi clash an clatter
sae eyedent ah could pass unseen
They flapped an scraiched an strutted crousely
waggled wottles, lowped an crowed
Forgot the warld ayont their stooshie
tae claim this wan wee scrap o road
Ah hud tae step aside tae pass them
sae little heed they paid tae me
Tae me, or ocht that micht distract them
fae this wan vital victory
The feathers flew, the battle breengin
their hens were fleggit by the fray
Till ae cock triumphed, puffed an preenin.
(The baith were shot by close o day.)