Twa Chiels

Chae
Tam luiked at Chae, an saw a gype ...
Bit Jock said,"Na — he's shy,
He's eeseless, harmless, scuttery,
Bit och, it's jist his wye.”

Jean luiked at Chae, an thocht him dreich,
Nae tuned fur love's sonatas,
Bit Janet, wi a soundin hairt,
Thocht Chae the cat's pyjamas!

His mither, wi a mither's ee,
Thocht Chae her pride an glory.
(I've heard it said the meenister
Wid tell anither story ...)

Bit Chae's jist Chae, ye read the buik
An niver heed the bindin:
An fit's the soup wi'oot the spice?
I tak fowk as I find them!


The Self-Made Man
Sklaik held that he'd a ferret's sense,
Fur bargains at a roup;
He'd lined his nest at fowk's expense,
A creel that wadna cowp.

Auld-farrant, eident, thrifty, smairt,
He'd then the horseman's wird,
He'd kittled deems as easy
As he'd coortit gowd frae yird.

A self-made man, he laced the buits
That nane war fit tae tie,
Fur ay there's mair tae winnin on
Than rainbows i' the sky.

Breeks waurna bettered, wis his spik,
B' sittin on their dowp.
He weel deserves the siller speen
Fa supped the sowen's stoup!