Ropemakers Close, Perth, in Soutar's time.
| introduction | life | poetry | bibliography |
Read and listen to selected poems
Backlands
| In backlands aff the Ropey Close, Whan the müne grows cauld and sneep, The bairnies wha were beddit boss Hae grat themsel's to sleep. |
The auld wife, boo'd abüne her wark Steeks on be cannel-flame: The sma'-hour dinnles through the dark The trollop taivers hame. |
Glossary
| close - alley; | sneep - white; | bairnies - children; | beddit - put to bed; | boss - unfed; |
| grat - cried; | boo'd - bent; | abüne - over; | steeks - stitches; | cannel - candle; |
| dinnles - tingles; | trollop - sloven; | taivers - wanders. |
Most poems on the site have audio. Please click the play button if you want to hear a recording.