GEORGE Bruce's light-hearted warning to the hoity-toity (from Today Tomorrow, his Collected Poems from 1933 to 2000, Polygon, £14.99) may serve as a reminder of this year's McCash Scots Poetry Competition.

The theme is "Now Then"; the closing date August 31. Three poems, no longer than 30 lines, may be submitted (to me at The Herald).

VIBRATIONS

'Be nocht hoity-toity'

You'll mind on the gran tenor

wha's tap note brak the gless

on the table-tap intae twa thoosand pieces.

You'll mind on 'the classic case'

o the wa's o Jericho.

And then there wis the hen

that look't Mrs McPhee

straucht in the ee,

an she split.

Noo abody has their vibrations,

Witin in the back-shop

or unner the bed

or spewed oot sudden

frae a shiny computer.

So, watch yer step this fine mornin,

my mannie.

witin=waiting