Scots poem of the month - May 2008

The Speak o Eden Pey nae heed ti aa thon Heilant clishmaclavers anent the speak o Eden. Conseider Aidam. A coorse, thrawn-heidit tink. Contrar as a cankert stot. See him, broos doon in a muckle glower, chin birstlan oot, neives on hips, feet plantit firm, taes gruppan hard, staunan thonder forenenst God himsel. Thou shalt not, says God. Aye, will I! glowers Aidam. Thon the man and that the speak got’s aa pit oot o Eden. By George Hardie from Identities (Aberdeen: Koo Press, 2007) Poem supplied courtesy of the Scottish Poetry Library

The Inspiration for the Poem George says: "Although having been born in Lanarkshire I have always felt a strong affinity with Aberdeenshire. Both my paternal grandparents were from there and although I have no memory of them my father retained a fair bit of the vocabulary though he himself was born in Glasgow. So maybe it's something in the genes or maybe just sentimental wishful thinking. Whatever the reason that attachment came together with a memory of the Gaelic boast that that was the language spoken in paradise, to produce this poem. why the two things should have come together I have to admit that I have no idea. I'm just pleased that they did."

About the Poet Geroge Hardie: Born Hamilton 1933. Educated St. John's Grammar and Hamilton Academy. One of the founder/editors of Chapman in 1970. At one time, heavily involved in politics he became the first SNP councillor in Hamilton. His involvement resulted in a long period of unemployment which ended with his moving with his family to the south of England. Now retired from work as a builder's estimator he lives in Winchester but still continues to write exclusively in Scots.