Gm a min

[apleasantpheasant]

Under the theme of found poetry:

I found this written into the medical notes of a man who was unfortunately quite unwell.

Patient's main concern

Is the blue sign outside his door.

Patient is a Celtic supporter.

I have changed the sign.

-

[apleasantpheasant]

Dear Borrower,

It gars me grue fan back I look

As I return ess Library beuk

'At ne'er again doon ben e ages

Anither micht e'er leaf its pages...

Bit if by happy circumstance

Fulfillit cams 'at rarest chance

An' fynes my note til futyir self

Micht gild yir hairt an' gar ye health!

Shid Destiny e'er wirk Her chairm

Ess beuk f'un cradled in yir airm

I trow it brings sam jye til thee

Its satisfaction brocht til me.

An' thus I scrieve until anither

(Files we'll nivver meet thegither)

Cherished, borrow't beuk tak hame

Kennit 'at yir no alane!

15/02/23, Anonymous poem left inside a library copy of Hugh MacDiarmid's Golden Treasury of Scottish Poetry. IM written on the back, signature included at the bottom.

The poem's going back with the book when I return it, but I feel better recording it in case it gets lost somewhere along the book's travels from reader to reader.

"Kennit 'at yir no alane!" is quite delightful.

[apleasantpheasant]

A sprinkling of notable expressions used in Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves, P.G. Wodehouse:

- "Not much bounce to the ounce," - a lacklustre mood

- "Homicidal ardour," - describing a rugby tackle

- "In the matter of thews, sinnews, and tonnage," - regarding a large man

- "You move in mysterious ways, your wonders to perform," - addressed to a chronically clumsy friend

- "This Bassett beazel," - probably not particularly complimentary but still a corker

- "The lute goes phut," - when romantic relationships go awry