The Feartie-Cat

by Rowena M Love

A feartie-cat, an richt hen-hertit,
Ah’m shair tae loass onie rammie -
Fur well afore it wud even be stertit
Whae’d be skirlin fur his mammie?

Ah wud!

Fae uncannie craiturs Ah’d jouk awa
Tremmlin, souchin, sairly fleggit
Ah’d coorie doon, mak masel sma
Fae sic beasties whae wudnae leg it?

Ah huv!

“Cushie, cushie,” the corbie wud ca,
As a wirricow’s speirer oot,
Kecklin michtily as Ah lowped the wa,
He’s clypin tae carlines so wud Ah scoot?

Wud ah?!

A hushle o’ hey in runkelt claes
Wi a tumshie heid an a battered hat
Mochie, holie, seen better days -
Whae on eird cud be feart o that?

Ah cud!

A wee peep an Ah’m aa peelie-wallie,
Ne’er min a fleysome tattie-bogle!
Feart as Ah am o ma ain shaddae
Whit does it tak, ma smeddum tae coggle?

Nuthin!

© Rowena M Love
Published in The Scots Magazine, June 1998 issue
Also used on www.scuilwab.org.uk the website run by Scottish Language Dictionaries, with

questions for school pupils so they can do a critical analysis of the poem.