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Scots Language Centre Centre for the Scots Leid

Onchancy

Skailed satt.
A thoombfu flang in Auld Nick's ee
Ower the left showder, dispatched swippertly
Will some mishanter stop
Cheengin the weird yell dree

Dinna weir claes o green
Or sure's a cat's a hairy breet
Ye'll rig in murnin blaik
you Afore they're deen.

At the new meen
Niver glower ben glaiss
Lest aa yer fortunes soor
An turn tae aisse.

At Halloween,
Wauk saftly,
Fur the fooshty graveyaird kists
Are staunin teem.

Mind, speerits canna cross a rinnin bum
Efter a fearty quine, a fleggit gurin.
Be cannie, fur yon watter weel micht haud
The eildritch meer that bides aneth the flood
Wha tries tae tryst doomed watchers frae the shore.
Takk tent, an plant a rodden bi the door.

Fin midnicht brings the New year tae the Auld
Let nae fair-heidit first-fit ower the fauld
Or twal-month o ill-favour ye micht win
An niver bring inbye the flooerin whin
Fur yalla breem's the feys accursed flooer
Twill pyson the guidluck in ony booer.

Dyod lass, ye're ugsome. First o May, rin oot
An dicht the dyew o mornin ower yer snoot
Tae gie yer ill-faurt face a bonnie sheen
Or better still … gin a fite horse ye've seen
Wish fur a fire-new physog aathegither
An buy yersel a kist-fu o fite heather