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  • Street Talk
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Street Talk

J. K. Annand

There was a rammie in the street,
A stishie and stramash.
The crabbit wifie up the stair
Pit up her winda sash.

“Nou what’s adae?” the wifie cried,
“Juist tell me what’s adae.”
A day is twinty-fower hours, missis,
Nou gie us peace to play.

“Juist tell me what’s ado,” she cried,
“And nane o yer gab,” cried she.
D’ye no ken a doo’s a pigeon, missis?
Nou haud your wheesht a wee.

“I want to ken what’s up,” she cried,
“And nae mair o yer cheek, ye loun.”
It’s only yer winda that’s up, missis.
For guidsake pit it doun.


J. K. Annand

from A Wale o Rhymes (Macdonald Publishers, 1989).

Reproduced by permission of Scottish Language Dictionaries

Tags:

argument childhood everyday life humour language play Scots Scots Scots recitals for children suitable for children wordplay
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J. K. Annand1908 - 1993

J. K. Annand's bairn rhymes continue to delight Scots children, but he also wrote poetry for adults, and was an active promoter of the Scots language.
More about J. K. Annand

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