Glesga poems 5

1. A GLESCA WEAN...by Cathleen Sweeney Ah didnae hiv very many toys Like the weans a' hiv the day. Ma pals were happy girls an' boys Wi' lots o' games tae play. We played at cowboys an' Indians, We played at hide an' seek, When we counted tae 100 nice an' fast, An' ye wirnae allowed tae peek. Then we'd tie some string through two tin cans, An' we'd put them oan oor feet, An' stomp like something frae outer space Right up an' doon oor street. There wis doublers, ropes, an' kick the can. We played rounders roon the back, Then we'd sit oan toap o' the midden Tellin' ghost stories till it goat dark. We'd walk tae the Pictures Matinee Oan a Setterday afternoon, Where a man came oot tae make us a' sing An wave hankies in time tae the tune. We booed an' cheered at the Westerns, The Three Stoogies made us a' laugh, Then came the cartoons - Mickey Mouse an' Popeye, Tae make up the hours an' a half. We ate toffee apples an' candy cakes, An' chewed oan liquorice sticks. Soor plooms that pul't yir jaws right in, Dry wafers - a penny for six. We read the Beano an' Dandy, Oor Wullie an' The Broons. We even did back court concerts, Tap dancin' tae popular tunes. In this rhyme Ah've tried tae turn back the clock Tae aboot forty-odd years ago, Tae paint a picture o' whit life wis like For a wean in old Glasgow. When there wisnae a word like junkie, An' naebody that Ah knew sniffed glue. Today Ah jist cannae help thinkin' Whit's happenin' tae Glesca weans noo?	anither version author unknown A Glesca' Wean Ah wis born an' bred in Glesca' Aye, Glesca' is ma hame Bein' brocht up in a tenement made me a typical Glasca' Wean Ah didnae hae very many toys Like the weans a' hiv the day Ma pals were happy girls an' boys An' there wis lots o' games tae play We'd play at 'Cowboys an' Indians' We played at 'Hide an' seek' When we coonted tae 100 nice an' fast An' ye wirnae allowed tae peek. Then we'd tie some string thre' two tin cans An' we'd put them oan oor feet An' stomp like Dracula's Monster Right up an' doon oor street There wis 'Doublers', 'Ropes' an' 'Kick the can' We played 'Rounders' roon the back The we'd sit oan toap o' the midden Tellin' Ghost Stories 'til it got dark We'd walk tae the Picture Matinee Oan a Seturday efternoon Where a man came oot tae make us a' sing An' wave hankies in time tae the tune But even tho' we hidnae Dolls like Barbie or like Sindy Ye could shout up tae yer Maw fer a piece oan Jam an' she'd Throw it oot the windae!
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2. GLASGOW LULLABY (by Eric Bogle) Hush wee babby for your daddies comin in Stumblin up the stairs and missin every yin Rotten wae beer and stinkin o gin He's drunk again, as usual. Oh my god, it's a weary weary life Who wid be a drinkin man's wife Who wid thole a this trouble and strife Who but a silly woman. Hush wee babby he's comin in the door Drunkin big feet skitin ower the floor He's had a bucket but he's thirstin for more He disnae ken when he's beaten. Hush wee babby listen tae him sittin there Wi his bloodshot eyes and his tangled hair Mooth fu o big talk and eyes fu o dispair And blamin me as usual. Hush wee babby yer daddies gone tae bed The morn he'll no remember a the things he said But his tongue was sharp and a the wounds they bled But then a'm used tae bleedin. Hush wee babby close yer weary eyes Cuddle intae mammy and stop yer tired crys And in the mornin when ye decide tae arise Yer mammy will be here waitin.	3. A Glesca Party by Chrissie Barr Gei's a song, ach no' the noo. Whit's wrang hen? that's no like you. Ah'm jist no ready, ah canny think mibye a need some mair tae drink. "Gei hur annurrer" wis the command then she'll sing tae beat the band Efter a few, poured withoot measure she says "cum oan noo, name yer pleasure" Whit's it tae be? ah'll sing whit ye want. she wis confident she could chant. Is it Rabbie, Shirley ur Lena Martell? this lassie wis said tae hiv a voice like a bell. By this time folk wur gettin' fed up wi the patter Fur Christ's sake sing, it disny matter. If she disnt sing, ah'll no borra see ah'm up fur ma wurk re morra. The lassie finally stood up, drinkin' Lanny fae a china cup. Hur song wis long bit no' forgotten She could sing nane, -- she wis BLIDDY ROTTEN !!! ~ remember nights jist like that when a wiz a wee lassie. aw ra Best GlesgaPal Nell
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When ah wis a wean, wan o the enduring legends o childhood wis The Lucky Middens. Aw sortsa wonderful things wur supposed tae be found therr. Here's a wee poem aboot them. GlesgaPal TT THE LUCKY MIDDENS Faur tae the West by shoogly tram oan the road tae Tir Nan Og, afore the Big Rock Candy Mount, in a land o mist an fog known jist tae weans, where dreams come true, a secret place lies hidden, where aw the rubbish is brand new. It's cawed the Lucky Middens. The bins therr ur aw sparklin bright. They're washed an scoored oot every night by teams o midgie men in suits white as the snaw, wi shinin boots. The middens ur aw wally tiled, wi pokes an parcels neatly piled row efter row, like buildin bricks, fur every wean tae take their pick. Cowboay hats, cricket bats, dinky toys, guns, boaxes o choclits, sweeties an buns. Real leather fitbas, peeries wi whips, pea shooters, train sets - a real lucky dip. Faur tae the West by shoogly tram in the Land o Heart's Desire, beside the hill where time stauns still, an Truth's the only liar, seek by the light o childhood dreams fur the secret place that's hidden. Where aw the rubbish is brand new. It's cawed the Lucky Middens.	POSTED by GlesgaPal Jimmuck Summ urr Blue an' summ urr Green! summ F' the Pope an' summ The Queen! Bit dae ah' care? dae a gie a a 'jot?' Do ah' care? ah' do not!! If ah' wis in 'the clink' th'night? wid either wan bring me a bite? If ah' wis trapped in a 'mental jail' wid wan or th'ither make me 'hale'? When chips urr doon' an' comfort due, 'yoo'll noa find peace in Green or Blue Ah've walked a lonely road in life, hurt ma wains, destroyed ma wives ah've' needitt somewhere safe tae be an' cried oot furr ma mammy's knee an thoatt ah'd reached ma final hour tae ah' gave masell tae ma Higher Power! Oh' whit a blessin' ah' hae funn an' it wisnae in a Fitba Grunn' An' noa ahint an auld flute 'baun' bit when ah' reached furr "Ma Daddy's Haun" So, sittin' here at ma wee desk ah' wish yese Peace, ah' wish yese Rest an' pray th'day, yurr worries? few! Ah'll share ma "Higher Power' wae yoo!
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