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  • Da Clearance
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Da Clearance

Rhoda Bulter

I can see da rüfs aa taekit, an da hens aroond da door;
Fok kerryin twartree paets hame, an rigs delled every voar.
Aa da lums ir reekin, an I hear da happy soonds
O peerie bairns skirlin, as dey play dem ower da toons.

I see eens sittin roond da fire, an twartree mair oot by;
Sookin infants at da breest, an weemen gjaan ta cry.
Da tochtfil, tried faces o dem at's lived ower lang;
Fractious bairns feytin sleep, an sensin somethin wrang.

I hear a lood, lood knockin, an da crump o monny feet;
Men's voices raised in anger, an da bairns start ta greet.
I see da fok aa hirded oot afore da laandloard's men;
An aa da bits a things dey hed, fired ower da briggy-stane.

I see da bare waas staandin, an aa da laand lie green;
Lang syne da fire wis slokkit, an monny a year is geen.
Noo dey aa hae equal portions o aert ta tak dir sleep.
Tell me, wis it wirt it aa for twartree extry sheep?

Rhoda Bulter

Reproduced with permission from the Estate of Rhoda Bulter.

Tags:

20th century poems Highlands & Islands scottish poems Shetlandic SQA Higher texts

Learning Resources

SQA Key: National 5        Higher
  • Scottish Poetry Collection (Nat 5 and Higher) resources at the University of Glasgow

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Woman with short dark hair, wearing a colour blouse and cardigan, and standing in front of the sea. Image in black & white.

Rhoda Bulter1929-1994

Shetlandic poet Rhoda Bulter wrote and performed throughout Scotland in the latter half of the 20th century.
More about Rhoda Bulter

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