More sly Scot humour on display with today’s two pieces: the first by Ken Sutherland was short-listed in the 2005 McCash Scots Poetry Competition; the second is the briefest and wittiest of putdowns by Douglas Young.

TINTO HILL WITHOOT OXYGEN

Thon’s ma ain flag,

Snappin awa brawly

On tap o’ Tinto Hill

~

Whaur Messner himsel

(The grand exemplar)

Hasna set his fuit.

~

Ahm a great believer

In aye pushin masel

Tae ma verra leemit,

~

That’s why ahm here

This six month,  i Zermatt

Ablow the Eiger.

~

Puttin in ma trainin

Fur the north face

O’ Largo Law.

      LAST LAUCH

The Minister said it wald dee,

the cypress buss I plantit.

But the buss grew til a tree,

naething dauntit.

~

It’s growan stark and heich,

derk and straucht and sinister,

kirkyairdie-like and dreich.

But whaur’s the Minister?