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  • The Neep-Fields By the Sea
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The Neep-Fields By the Sea

Violet Jacob

Ye’d wonder foo the seasons rin
This side o’ Tweed an’ Tyne;
The hairst’s awa’; October-month
Cam in a whilie syne,
But the stooks are oot in Scotland yet,
There’s green upon the tree,
And oh! What grand’s the smell ye’ll get
Frae the neep-fields by the sea!

The lang lift lies abune the warld,
On ilka windless day
The ships creep doon the ocean line
Sma’ on the band o’ grey;
And the lang sigh heaved upon the sand
Comes pechin’ up tae me
And speils the cliffs tae whaur ye stand
I’ the neep-fields by the sea.

Oh, time’s aye slow, tho’ time gangs fast
When siller’s a’ tae mak’,
An’ deith, afore ma poke is fu’
May grip me i’ the back;
But ye’ll tak’ ma banes an’ my Sawbath braws,
Gin deith’s ower smairt for me,
And set them up amang the shaws
I’ the lang rows plantit atween the wa’s,
A tattie-dulie for fleggin’ craws
I’ the neep-fields by the sea.


Violet Jacob

from The Scottish Poems of Violet Jacob (Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1945)

Tags:

Autumn farming fields North-East Scotland Scots Scots seashore senses
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Violet Jacob1863 - 1946

Violet Jacob, known for her novels of Scottish history and her poetry written in the rich dialect of Angus, was born into an aristocratic family, and lived her adult life as an officer’s wife in England and abroad.
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