Sheena Blackhall and James Robertson read children’s poems in Scots
22 January 2021
We invited James Robertson and Sheena Blackhall, two of Scotland’s leading proponents of Scots language, to select and share their favourite children’s poems that they think young people and teachers would enjoy as much as they do.
Both James and Sheena were interviewed by broadcaster Ally Heather; James from his back garden in Fife and Sheena at Dundee Contemporary Arts. Social-distancing best practice was observed by all those involved in the production of the films, recorded in the late summer of 2020. The films were generously supported by the estate of Bette Boyd.
The poems read include:
- Sheena Blackhall reads ‘A Dug, A Dug‘ by Billy Keys.
- James Robertson reads ‘Mrs Nae Offence‘ by Gregor Steele.
- Sheena Blackhall reads ‘Answermachine‘ by W.N. Herbert.
- James Robertson reads ‘Sarah, Fed Up‘ by Janet Paisley.
- Sheena Blackhall reads ‘Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie‘.
- James Robertson reads ‘The Gowk‘ by William Soutar.
- Sheena Blackhall reads ‘The Veggies’ Olympics‘ by Les Wheeler.
- James Robertson reads ‘The Twa Corbies‘.
- Sheena Blackhall reads ‘Up in the Morning Early‘ by Robert Burns.
- James Robertson reads ‘Listen Tae the Teacher‘ by Nancy Nicolson.
The work is presented as long interviews and edited, bite-size poems that can be used as resources for both formal and informal learning of Scots. Below, both authors discuss their poem choices.
Sheena Blackhall reads ‘A Dug, A Dug’ by Billy Keys.
You can read the poem here.
James Robertson reads ‘Mrs Nae Offence’ by Gregor Steele.
You can read the poem here.
Sheena Blackhall reads ‘Answermachine’ by W.N. Herbert.
You can read the poem here.
James Robertson reads ‘Sarah, Fed Up’ by Janet Paisley.
You can read the poem here.
Sheena Blackhall reads ‘Mill o’ Tifty’s Annie’
You can read the poem here.
James Robertson reads ‘The Gowk’ by William Soutar.
You can read the poem here.
Sheena Blackhall reads ‘The Veggies’ Olympics’ by Les Wheeler.
You can read the poem here.
James Robertson reads ‘The Twa Corbies’.
You can read the poem here.
Sheena Blackhall reads ‘Up in the Morning Early’ by Robert Burns.
You can read the poem here.
James Robertson reads ‘Listen Tae the Teacher’ by Nancy Nicolson’.
You can read the poem here.