Scots poem of the month - May 2009

This piece of writing was selected by the staff at the Scottish Poetry Library who receive Foundation funding from the Scottish Arts Council

Keep it simple, son Wi the sound o the Shand Morino duntin fae the wireless, Dad, in his Seturday cords, did stockin soled strathspeys on the livin room linoleum, teasin Mum oot the kitchenette tae face up an ‘paddy bar’ as they laughed, gettin the steps right, as gallously perjink as two wee jiggling lids on bubblin pots hardly able to haud in the steam. Duncan Brown, born 1908 died 23 December 1992 Jimmy Shand born 1908 died 23 December 2000 By Irene Brown From Glass Slippers (Calder Wood Press, 2009) Poem supplied courtesy of Calder Wood Press

About the poet Irene Brown writes in Scots and English and has been widely published. She is well known in Edinburgh for her lively readings of her poetry.  Glass Slippers is her first collection. Her themes are the wonderful moments of life that arrive through friendship and love, through childhood and its memories, through travel abroad and through the sights and sounds of nature.

Inspiration for the Poem The poem was originally an entry for the NGS annual writing competition, where works of art are an inspiration for a piece of writing.  I had chosen the portrait of Jimmy Shand because my father had been a great fan of his and his music played a part in our lives.  He and my father were both born in 1908 and each died od 23 December, my father in 1992 and Sir Jimmy in 2000.  The poem was not successful in the competition but has since been published in Lallans magazine and is part of my recent poetry pamphlet Glass Slippers, published by Calderwood Press.  The poem was also read on Radio Scotland by Robbie Shepherd on his programme The Reel Blend.