THE first little poem by William Soutar seemed strangely familiar - and then I recalled learning it (with other Scottish Renaissance gems) for an enlightened drama teacher in my Ayrshire secondary school.

Both mini poems show the Perth poet's charm and originality. They can be found in Into a Room, Selected Poems by Soutar (Argyll Press, £7.99).

THE DAFT TREE

A tree's a leerie kind o' loon

Weel happit in his emerant goun

Through the saft simmer days:

But, fegs, whan baes are in the fauld,

And birds are chitterin wi' the cauld,

He coosts aff a' his claes.

baes=sheep

THE LANELY MUNE

Saftly, saftly, through the mirk

The mune walks a' hersel':

Ayont the brae; abune the kirk;

And owre the dunnlin bell.

I wudna be the mune at nicht

For a' her gowd and a' her licht.