Skip to content

Scottish Poetry Library

Register/Sign in
Shopping Bag Shopping Bag
Bringing people and poems together
  • Home
  • Poetry
    • Poets
    • Poems
    • Film
    • Makar – National Poet
      • Our Waking Breath: A Poem-letter from Scotland to Ukraine
      • A Woman’s A Woman
      • The story of the Makar – National Poet of Scotland
    • Best Scottish Poems
    • Poetry Ambassadors
      Tosgairean na Bàrdachd
      • Poetry Commissions: Walter Scott 250
        Coimiseanan Bàrdachd: Walter Scott 250
      • Poetry Ambassadors 2021
    • Podcasts
  • Library
    • Become a borrower
    • Catalogue
    • Collections
    • Ask a librarian
    • Copyright enquiries
  • Learning
    • SQA set texts
    • Learning resources
    • Designing sensory poetry activities
    • Children’s poems in Scots
    • National Poetry Day archive
    • New to poetry?
    • Advice for poets
  • Events
    • What’s On
    • Meeting rooms and venue hire
    • Exhibitions
  • Shop
    • Poetry Highlights
    • Entropie Books
    • Stichill Marigold Press
    • Poems for Doctors, Nurses & Teachers
    • Scottish Poetry
    • Poetry Pamphlet Cards
    • Help
  • About us
    • Our story
    • Our people
    • Company Papers & Policies
    • Our projects
    • Our building
    • FAQs
    • Find us
  • Support us
    • Become a Friend
    • Donate
  • Blog
Shopping BagShopping Bag
Ask a librarian
  • Home
  • >
  • Poetry
  • >
  • John Buchan
  • >
  • The South Countrie
Donate Donate icon Ask a Librarian Ask a Librarian icon

The South Countrie

John Buchan

I never likit the kingdom o’ Fife –
Its kail’s as cauld as its wind and rain,
And the folk that bide benorth o’ the Clyde
They speak a langwidge that’s no’ my ain.
Doun in the west is a clarty nest,
And the big stane cities are no’ for me ;
Sae I’ll buckle my pack on my auld bent back
And tak’ the road for the South Countrie.

Whaur sall I enter the Promised Land,
Owre the Sutra or doun the Lyne,
Up the side o’ the water o’ Clyde,
Or cross the muirs at the heid o’ Tyne,
Or staucherin’ on by Crawfordjohn
Yont to the glens where Tweed rins wee ? –
It’s maitter sma’ whaur your road may fa’
Gin it land ye safe in the South Countrie.

Yon are the hills that my hert kens weel,
Hame for the weary, rest for the auld,
Braid and high as the Aprile sky,
Blue on the taps and green i’ the fauld :
At ilka turn a bit wanderin’ burn,
And a canty biggin’ on ilka lea –
There’s nocht sae braw in the wide world’s schaw,
As the heughs and holms o’ the South Countrie.

You are the lads that my hert loes weel,
Frank and couthy and kind to a’,
Wi’ the open broo and the mirthfu’ mou’
And the open door at the e’enin’s fa’ ;
A trig hamesteid and a lauchin’ breed
O’ weans that hearten the auld to see –
Sma’ or great, can ye find the mate
O’ the folk that bide in the South Countrie?

The lichtest fit that traivels the roads
Maun lag and drag as the end grows near;
Threescore and ten are the years o’ men,
And I’m bye the bit by a lang, lang year.
Sae I’ll seek my rest in the land loe’d best,
And ask nae mair than that God sall gie
To my failin’ een for the hinmost scene
The gentle hills o’ the South Countrie.


John Buchan

Tags:

20th century poems early 20th century poems Scotland Scots
Share this
Facebook
Twitter
Email

Learn more

John Buchan1875 - 1940

John Buchan combined a literary life with his career in public service. In the latter he became Governor-General of Canada, and as an author he is best remembered for his popular adventure stories and for his poetry in Scots.
More about John Buchan

Podcasts

Our audio programme of poets, poems and news for you to listen to.
Listen Now

Join

Become a Borrower or support our work by becoming a Friend of SPL.
Join us
  • Newsletter signup
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Scottish Poetry Library
5 Crichton's Close, Canongate
Edinburgh EH8 8DT
Tel: +44 (0)131 557 2876
© Scottish Poetry Library 2022.
The Scottish Poetry Library is a registered charity (No. SCO23311).
City of Edinburgh logo Green Arts Initiative logo Creative Scotland logo
Scottish Poetry Library