Aroon'' The Raws

AROON THE  RAWS   
l9th.March, 1980

Memories of bygone days,
We now live in different ways,
A modem world..treats us proudly,
This we acclaim, oh so loudly,
Yet somewhere, hidden in our minds,
We all live in different times,
Mine is runnin’ doon the raws,
Late for schule, get the tawse,
Big Annie, pokin’ on ma airm,
Though awfu’ sair, it did nae harm,
Keekin’ in the Readin’ Room,
See the smoke go swirlin’ roon,
Joiner Tham’s horse an’ cairt,
Sittin’ high, an’ feelin’ smert,
Maggie Hazel’s cups o’ peas,
“Sa’t an pepper”? “Yes please”,
Doon tae Neillie’s,pinchin’ eggs,
Through the nettles, stingin' legs,
Sneakin’ ahin’ the playgr’un’ wa’,
Rabbie’s gairden’s lookin’ braw,
Tumshies, grosits, carrots tae,
We’ve got enough, we’ll away,
Johnnie Widburn roars an’ shouts,
Will the snotter put oot his dout,
Roon  the loch for stankies’ nests,         
These hissin’ swans are just a pest,
The Big Burn lures us a’ awa’,
Dookin’,  splashin’, divin’ an’ a’,
Sneakin’ tae the Ladies’ Dam,
The tap ane’s where the men a’ swam,
Ian Fraser’s fields o’ floors,
Some were his an’ some were oors,
The Cocky Driddle, clear an’ wet,
An’ dae ye ken, it’s runnin’ yet,
If Sunday’s weather’s fine or fair,
The bus is gain’ tae The Heids o’ Ayr,
The wireless on, it’s Saturday nicht,
Hear The McFlannels by paraffin licht,
Then clear the flair for Scottish dancin’,
Whirlin’, birlin’, hoochin’, prancin’,
Up tae Dormie’s we a’ ran,
Spill the milk, an’ ye’ll carry the can,
Geordie Wilson, collectin’ rent,
Geordie’s days were aye weel spent,
Doon tae Doddie’s for cinnamon sticks,
In tae the mooth, “Gie us a licht”,
The paraffin heater in the room,
Time tae coorie oor heids doon,
The wally bottle, boilin’ hot,
Roastin’ the feet, burnin’ the ‘bot’,
Nae cares in ma heid, just pleasin’ dreams,
Or plannin’ an’ plottin’ tomorrow’s schemes,  
THOSE FAR OFF DAYS, OF YEARS AGO,
RUNNIN’ ABOOT TRABBOCH ‘S ROWS,
HAPPY, JOYOUS, CHILDHOOD DAYS,
ONLY A  MEMORY  AWAY