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Yon Toun

William Soutar

1
Hae ye come in be yon toun
Ablow the craigie knowes?
Hae ye come in be yon toun
Whaur the clear water rows?
2
Birk and rodden on the brae,
Hawthorn in the hauch;
And clear water churlin by
The elder and the sauch
3
At day−daw and at grey−fa’
The merry bells ding doun:
At day−daw and grey−fa’
There’s music in yon toun
4
Merlie and mavie whistle clear;
And when the hour is still
Haikers owre the auld brig hear
The gowk upon the hill.
5
Wha wudna bide in yon toun
Ablow the craigie knowes?
Wha wudna bide in yon toun
Whaur the clear water rows?
1942


William Soutar

from Poems of William Soutar: a new selection, edited by W.R.Aitken (Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1988)

© National Library of Scotland. Reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland.

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nostalgia pastoral Perthshire Placebook Scotland Scots
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Black & white photo of poet

William Soutar1898 - 1943

William Soutar overcame his ill-health to write poetry in celebration of ‘the generosity of life’, and much verse in Scots for children.
More about William Soutar

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