Villanelle de Noel is reproduced with the kind permission of Joy Hendry at Chapman. Before her death in August 2021, Heather Scott also gave permission for the poem to be published on the Scots Language Centre site. 

The poem is published in the Collected Shorter Poems of Tom Scott - Chapman (15.95). 

For orders e-mail chapman-pub@blueyonder.co.uk www.chapman-pub.co.uk

 

 Villanelle de Nol

The robin owre aa birds is blest
At this time o the year, Nowel:
The bluid o Christ is on his breast.

Frae Sicily tae Hammerfest
The bairns relate the sely tale:
The robin owre aa birds is blest,

For on Calvarie he tried to wrest
Frae Yeshus palm the cruel nail:
The bluid o Christ is on his breast.

Sensyne hes been Yuill's dearest guest,
Nae ither sae welcome as himsel:
The robin owre aa birds is blest.

He wears the Yuilltide like a vest,
And his sangs the peal o a ferlie bell:
The bluid o Christ is on his breast.

Nae starred and medalled heros chest
Can eer wi greater merit swell:
The robin owre aa birds is blest,
The bluid o Christ is on his breast.

Tom Scott

Source: The Collected Shorter Poems of Tom Scott
Chapman Publications, Edinburgh, 1993, p 176.
 

Editors note:
There are two or three slightly different versions of this poem. One
significant difference is the spelling and rendering of breast in one
briest is used. I think breast preferable, because of the full
rhyming throughout the poem.