A Wee Kist o’ Verse
Mainly in the Scottish Dialect
One of the clubs projects for 2009 was a competition for school children throughout Dumfries and Galloway to write a poem in the Scot’s language and the winners would receive certificate’s and money for their winning entries, they along with the best 100 chosen poems would be published in a commemorative book which would also include the names of all the school children who had taken part in the competition. I don’t think any of us in the club imagined the response we would get when over 600 entries were received giving our judges a most difficult job in choosing the best entries.
I was present at the ‘proof reading’ of the book, the joy and thrill we got reading these poems for the first time was such fun and we marvelled at the works of the children. One of the club committee member’s John Clark, who painted that wonderful Ellisland Homecoming painting that we have been selling during this year, was asked to draw some accompanying images to place in the book along with the poems.
Solway offset have done us proud and produced a book that is being acclaimed by many all over the region as each school has been gifted a copy. Entitled ‘A Wee Kist o’ Verse’ it is selling at £10.00 for the hard back copy which has a picture of the famous Globe Close on the front and features a foreword from yours truly and an look at the Scot’s language by Rab Wilson, who was on the judging panel. Details of how to purchase, which in years to come will be a collector’s item, are available on the club website where you can also see an index list of the poems and their authors and a review by Past president of the RBWF Murdo Morrison. As I mentioned in the Remember, Remember that month of November (part one) Blog, the kids whose entries were first, second and third in both primary and secondary age groups took part and said their poems as well as receiving their awards at the Gala Concert.
2009 has seen the club participate in many events and this competition was one of the memorable ones with the book being a great reminder of what turned out to be a very worthwhile and exciting competition. As a club we offer our thanks to the children for taking part and the teachers and parents for encouraging them to continue to keep the ‘auld Scot’s tongue’ alive today. And well done to the winners!!
JOHN M CASKIE
PRESIDENT
BURNS HOWFF CLUB