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  • My Yellow Yorlin
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My Yellow Yorlin

Susi Briggs

This strange man says, “Gies yer maidenhead.”
Ane lanely terrifyin mornin
“I cuid pey ye weel, an make ye squeal,
If ye let me touch yer yellow yellow yorlin.”
Whit shuid I dae, whit cuid I say?
My hert’s sairly forfochan
He is the hawk and I am his prey
Hoo dae I save my yellow yellow yorlin?
I cuid fain the musk o anither man’s lust,
Tell this bastard that I’ve got a darlin
Or tak his siller and pretend, that I dae consent
Tae the stealin o my yellow yellow yorlin
Aw in vain, he kens I’m aw alane
His lust is owerpooerin,
Doon on the grun, my skirts upturned
An he’s clawin fer my yellow yellow yorlin
Time stapped still, it wis my will
Nae fechtin and nae squealin
The sun it shone, on this fine May morn
But my body it lay there frozen
I steyed still there, stinging an sair
The pain I kept it hidden
If he thocht me tame, I’d mibbes get hame
Tae see anither May mornin
He’ll be conveenced, by his conscience
When it comes a cawin
My stillness was my acquiescence
Tae the giftin o my yellow yellow yorlin
Beauty’s a curse and at it’s worse
Comes wi predatory warnings
O men wha swell wi entitled pride
Tae hunt and stab the yellow yellow yorlins

Susi Briggs

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Burns Night Scots

About this poem

This poem was commissioned by the Scottish Poetry Library for Burns Day 2022.

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Susi Briggsb. 1978

Briggs has long been an advocate for Scots language literacy and has dedicated most of  her career to encouraging children to enjoy reading, writing and performing in Scots. 
More about Susi Briggs

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