| Royal Mail Scots Poetry Competitions 2009 |
Three Scots poetry competitions
for three age groups
‘Very high quality Scots writing. In this Year of Homecoming, Robert Burns would have been really proud of Scotland’s young Scots poets.’ Matthew Fitt , Judge
In February 2009, Scottish Book Trust asked Itchy Coo and Learning & Teaching Scotland if they could run a Scots and Gaidhlig poetry competition for the Royal Mail Book Awards. In the end, we decided to run three, or six really – three for Scots and three for Gaidhlig.
The Scots competitions - Wee Words, Bards & Beasties and Photie – challenged different ages o pupils tae use Scots tae write new poems. The winners were invited tae the Royal Mail Children’s Book Awards in Edinburgh on the 24th o November, 2009.
| Wee Words (0-7 years) |
Animals & Alliteration in Scots FOR EARLY YEARS
First place: Emily McCutcheon, Sandford Primary School, Strathaven, South Lanarkshire
Saicont place: Phoebe McAdam, P1, Letham Primary School, West Lothian
Third place: Eldon Wigram, P3B, Sound Primary School, Lerwick
Wee Words asked children aged 7 and unner tae compose a line o alliteration and draw a pictur tae go wi it. Aw the Wee Words entries were braw as new buttons but Emily McCutcheon’s Haiverin Hoolet, Phoebe McAdam’s Braw Bumbee and Eldon Wigram’s Tirn Troot brocht thegither great alliteration and bonnie drawins. They hae taen first, saicont and third place in this year’s competition. Weel done tae thaim. You can view Top 30 Wee Words Competition entries here.
| 1st place a haiverin hoolet hingin his heid | 2nd place braw bumbee | 3rd place The tirn troot traivelled tae Tingwall |
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| Emily McCutcheon Sandford Primary School, Strathaven, South Lanarkshire | Phoebe McAdam P1B Letham Primary School, West Lothian | Eldon Wigram P3B Sound Primary School, Lerwick |
Highly commended
The peelywally puddock was pentin.
Aimee Clark, P2/1, Girvan PS, Girvan, South Ayrshire
A mingin maukin maks a midden.
Samantha MacKay, P2, Reay PS, Caithness, Highland
A mingin moose mairries a mair mingin moose.
Mary-Ann Chesters, P3, Reay PS, Caithness, Highland
A crabbit cuddie was cairryin the clarty claes tae the cowp.
Julia Kennedy, age 7, Wellington School, Ayr
A daft doo dooks in the dub.
Jack McPhearson, P2, Loirston PS, Aberdeen
Guttery girny grice glaepin girs.
Callum Leask, P3, Sound PS, Lerwick, Shetland
A daft dug dauncin with his deuk on a table.
Louise Mackay, P3/4, Inshes PS, Inverness, Highland
Peerie peeliewally prood puggies playin
Charlotte Teague, age 8, Sandford PS, Strathaven, South Lanarkshire
The clarty cuddie cooried in wi the cauld craw.
Ella MacKechnie, P3/4, Park PS, Oban, Argyll & Bute
hurcheons all haudin haunds
Harry Eagleson, P3/2, St Palladius PS, Dalry, North Ayrshire
A broon brock wis birlin in his baffies.
Anna Wilkie, P1/2, Coupar Angus PS, Perth & Kinross
Clarty craw cannae find his claes.
Sarah Brown, Coupar Angus PS, Perth & Kinross
A peeliwally puddock pullin a pineapple
Finlay Ormiston, Coupar Angus PS, Perth & Kinross
A hackit hoolet hingin oot at his hoose.
Nathan Bigham, P2, Barr PS, Barr, South Ayrshire
A puir wee papingo perched on pine tree.
Peter Clarke, P3K, St Margaret’s PS, Polmont, Falkirk
Special mention
The yella yowe wis yatterin ower yonder yett.
Siobhan MacPherson, Coupar Angus PS, Perth & Kinross
The siller sparra likes skooshin watter.
Heather Robinson, P2, Loirston PS, Aberdeen
Ma daft dug.
Ross Mackie, P2, Bridgend PS, Bridgend, West Lothian
Mair muckle midgies went there.
Zoe ?, P2, Drumbowie PS, Falkirk
The heid hurcheon had a hooley at his hoose.
Ewan Preston, P3, Bo’ness Public School, Bo’ness, Falkirk
A bletherie brock wearin broon baffies
Kate McLeod, P3/4, Park Primary, Oban, Argyll & Bute
A clarty craw sittin on a waw.
Leon Cox, P2, Newport PS, Newport-on-Tay, Fife
Although all the 2009 competitions are now finished, here is the Wee Words competition pack for you to try the Scots activities whenever you want:
Wee Words Scots Poetry Competition Pack (195 Kb)| Bards and Beasties (8-11 years) |
Scots Nature Poetry YOUNGER WRITERS
First place: Lisa Watt, P6B, Sound Primary School, Lerwick, Shetland
Saicont place: Caroline Drennan, P7, Leswalt Primary School, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway
Third place: Meghan McGhee, Wallace Primary School, Elderslie, Renfrewshire
Bards & Beasties asked pupils aged 8 – 13 to create a poem about an animal. There were an awfie lot o high-quality entries in this category but Lisa Watt’s poem aboot Bobby da Bonxie, Caroline Drennan’s Speeder and Meghan McGhee’s Beasties had the edge in rhyme, rhythm and imagination tae tak the tap three prizes.
1st Place
Bobby da Bonxie
Bobby da Bonxie is a unbiddable aald guy,
An he is braaly sleekit.
Maist o da time he likes to keep da nest safe,
Ta his friends he is aafil ill-vicket!
He’s black and he’s broon,
Wi twartree muckle claas on his taes.
He has a ill-naitered look in his een,
Wi a guggled neb fae his huntin days.
He flees dat swiftly trow da air,
Laek a fast jet plane.
Swoopin up an doon in a loop-de-loop,
Da lassies wid never complain!
Maist o da time he jost sits around,
But sometimes unleashes his evil wrath.
Whan he catches da idder birds,
He stops dem fae dir fishy path.
Lisa Watt, P6B, Sound Primary School, Lerwick, Shetland
2nd place
The Speeder
Ootside an auld wirthlless hoose ..........
Just ooside the door is a peerie, sleekit, gowden ettercap
He sits upon his dainshoch , siller wab
Cannily pitin it the gither
it skinkles in the blawing win `n sun
The sleekit , wee speeder sits day `n nicht
In the licht `o the wee hoose
Tho hi is wabbit `n crabbit
He cairries on
Till his bonnie wab is din
Caroline Drennan, P7, Leswalt Primary School, Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway
3rd place
Beasties
See ma wee dug, she’s awfy braw,
She loves tae play oot in the snaw.
Sometimes I take’er up the brae,
She would love tae stay there aw day.
Ma wee dug’s startin tae get auld,
When I take’er oot she seems really cauld.
She starts tae feel, when she sees a wean,
Like she wants tae be a pup again.
Meghan McGhee, P5, Wallace PS, Renfrewshire
Highly Commended
Bonnie CuddieE’ braw cuddie stands on e’ brae
The wind blaws in his mane
I slip a rope aroon’ his neck
An’ tak him hame
E’ lowpin muckle cuddie
Turns his heid tae keek at me
He gallops o’er e’ hill
Legs thunderin’ lek e’ sea
Caitlin Flavell, P7, Reay PS, Caithness, Highland
Gallus the Craw
Whit’s sae gallus aboot Gallus?
Weel, he’s …
awfie bletherie
aye daft
yin guid craw
he looks perjink
his neb is yella
wi twa yella feet
he’s richt bleck
an mischevious
in his broon nest
he’s awfie clarty
awfie fashious
bit maist o a
Gallus is a braw craw!
Jade Barr, P5, Comely Park PS, Falkirk
My Wee Moose!
Ma moose sits in ma ganzie pocket
He bides there nicht and and day.
Jeemey's broon , muckle , with wee pink lugs,
Ma Maw wants him oot the hoose.
When nicht falls he's sleekit like a fox,
Doon tae the larder Jeemey crawls.
He's wheechin through oor cheese supply
Ma pieces on butter only noo.
He gies us a cute , moose like look,
But tottie crumbs o cheese gie him away
So he's been lowpin over moose traps noo.
The siller traps go all tapsalteerie as they fly,
Up into the nicht sky.
Jeemey has been pittin off the moose traps,
So he's skinnymalinky thin !
Katie McGuigan, P6, St John’s PS, Alloa, Clackmannanshire
The Peeliewally Reid Tod
I was sittin at the table wi ma mammy
eatin ma plate o’ tatties when I saw a flash o reid.
Ma mammy was still bletherin on the phone so I went ootside instid.
I looked at the sky as black as a craw flying so high,
Shinin doon from the tap o’ the nicht were siller stars all bonny and bricht.
Ootside on a clarty bit o’ hill wis a peeliewally reid tod so sleekit and still.
A moose scampering doon the wall its fur a gowdeny broon and braw.
I crept awa wi lots o care and back to the hoose and left it there.
Kelsey Frew, age 11, Heathfield PS
Ah want a Wee Dug
Am aye greetin fur ma ane wee dug.
But ma Maw aye says naw.
She says the hoose’ll be mingin
Wi mud, dirt an snaw
Ah hae a notion fur wan a them
Wi black spoats aw aroon.
But ma Maw says yins likethat
Need muckle walks roon the toon.
Noo she’d go fur a wee fluffy dug,
Yin that yelps aw day lang.
An ma faither he’d huv twa dugs
Muckle an strong.
Maybe when it’s Christmas time
Santa’ll gie ma wish.
Till then ah,ll huv tae pit up
Wi ma puir auld goldfish.
Christian Gibson (10), Muirhead PS, Troon, South Ayrshire
Reid Gleg Tod
The reid gleg tod goes aff o his hunt
Tae get a pouttie for his denner
He mauves silently throu the shadows
An creeps up o tae the henhoose.
The fermer leaves the fermhoose
Tae go o his todhunt
He creeps up ahint the hay in the fauld
Aims his musket at the tod
Bang!! He shoots but misses
The reid gleg tod runs back tae his den
Unner the fallen tree.
Sean Scott, P7, Edderton PS, Tain, Highland
A Bairn’s Best Friend
I wish I had ma ain wee dug,
I ken whit I wid dae.
I’d tickle in ablow its lugs
An tak it a walk up the grassy brae.
It wid be the best friend a bairn ever had.
Jack Stevenson, age 8
The Troot
A saw a troot whan a was fishin
It was siller as it sweem throu the watter
It was so bonny so a didna catch it
But a watched it sweem up burn
A walked alang aside it
A came to a deed end but the troot sweem on
A watched it sweem until a didna see it
Ross Gilroy, Heriot PS, Midlothian
Dugs, Dugs, Dugs
Muckle dugs,
Tottie dugs,
Everywhere you see dugs.
Broon dugs,
Black dugs,
Everywhere you go dugs.
Skinneymalinky sausage dugs,
Fat and pudgy
Bull dugs,
Everywhere you go dugs.
Daft dugs,
Sick dugs,
Barkin hauf the night dugs.
Good dugs,
Bad dugs,
Everywhere you hear dugs.
Bonnie dugs,
Hackit dugs,
Runnin roun the park dugs.
Oh! Whit wid we dae without dugs?
Sarah Alexander, P6, Highlanders’ Academy PS, Inverclyde
Sheep Dug
I am a sheep dug
Herding sheep a day long
Keekin for that sheep
In the perk
Chasing them in to their pen
Nae finding that fluffy thugs
So I just start wakin hame
Only yin sheep dug working a day lang
Shaun Buckle, Tipperty PS, Aberdeenshire
Puggie
Oh tottie puggie,
dinnae greet,
even tho ye are hackit.
Go hae some ginger,
tae cheer yerself up!
Kyle Henderson, age 10, Pulteneytown Academy PS, Wick, Highland
Special Mention
Sherbet the Pownie
Me and ma wee pownie went oot fur a walk,
When aw o a sudden she turned on her hock
She started lowpin’ doon the path,
Booncin’ aboot like a newborn calf
Then a wee goat kid came skitin’ doon the field,
Then tae ma amazement ower it keeled!
The wee kid was tummlin’ aw doon the grass,
What a shame fur the puir wee lass.
Sherbet the pownie got an awfie fricht,
Turned aroon’ an galloped intae the nicht.
I gave the wee goat a pat oan the heid,
Then went tae fetch ma pownie’s lead.
I foon her in the natterin’ tae her buddy,
But the durrty wee devil had rolled an got muddy!
Corrie Smith, age 11, Girvan PS, South Ayrshire
Ma Papingo
Prood of ma feathers
Aw bonnie and Shiny
Peerie and a bit of a Skinnymalinky
In ma cage all alone
Nothing tae dae, but hing aboot
Greeting for someone tae play with
Oh! Eh wish eh hid a friend
Louise Robertson, P7 Newport Primary School, Fife
The Dug
He’s a hackit, wee dug,
Who’s aye haein fun.
He’s a clarty, wee dug
Who’s aye loupin the wa.
And he bosses aw the baudrans
Who aye hings aboot the cowp.
Jake McLauchlan, P6M, Shieldhill PS, Falkirk
Sherky
Zippin throu the watter
Scoffin’its face.
Flesh lover,
Deadly mate.
Under watter wheelie bin.
Nashers like razers.
Watch oot fur its jaws.
He`s the doom o’ the deep.
Henry Byres, Tealing PS, Angus
Hungry Rhino
Am a rhino,
Muckle an strang...
Lumbren roond the clarty glaur.
Am prood o ma horn,
Buft tae the tip,
Perfect fur diggin up ma stovies an tumshies.
Big on the day,
Sma on the nicht,
Fur then am blind!
Tumplin roond dancin puggies..
Laughin at me an callin me chubby!
I love tae eat a’ day an nicht,
Always searchin fur some food.
Among the grass I spy the jackpot...a bush!
Ewan Wilson, St Catherine's PS, Paisley, Renfrewshire
Ma Gryce
Ma gryce his a pirly tail
He slochs fae a troch
Whin he birls in glaur
He is blithe
But he’s mair blithe
Whin he sees
Me!
Ma gryce eats near ocht
But whit he likes maist are
Bananaes an chocolate
I tak’ ma gryce fa walks
An feed him whit he likes
But whit I dinnae like is
Cleanin his sty!
Skye Wilson, Bell Baxter HS, Fife
I um a snail
I um a snail,
A croul fi gairdin ti gairdin,
U huve a shell on mu back.
Au a see is gress,
3 times the size i mi.
Um aboot 9 years auld,
Ma lifes holf er auready,
But a canny da enuhin aboot it.
U feel abit sad aboot ma sell,
2 inches an hoor,
A want ti get quicker,
Bit a jist canny.
Nou ti ma bihavyir,
It’s no that gid,
It’s o’right bit.
A look well smoe,
Au yi cin see is ma shell,
Yive goat ti be careful yi dinny stand on mi.
Ryan Whyte, P6, St Joseph’s PS, Bonnybridge, Falkirk
Earn’s Joorney
Th’ earns were flyin’ in th’ air.
They seen the sodgers fightin’ doon below.
They heard the tanks roar.
Doon they flew tae th’ groond
an’ the leader prayed fir peace.
A wee wean came up tae th’ earns
an each wan wis shot.
Stoaner is th’ pain o’ war.
Michael Mackay, West Kilbride PS, North Ayrshire
Ma Monkey
See ma pet monkey
He’s daein ma heid in
Wi his haiveren
And his bletherin.
Yin nicht he was dauncing
Roon ma bed
He’s got to be the daftest puggie
Ah’ve ever seen!
Daniel Penman, P6, St Marie’s RC Primary School, Kirkcaldy, Fife
Earn
The earn bides in a tree,
Its hame is way up high.
It doesnae fly ower the sea,
But soars in the sky.
Joukin roun in a crag,
Tapselteerie.
Keekin for a stag,
Wheechin an birlin like a peerie!
Liam MacKinnon & Rhys Watson,Primary 7, Caol Primary School, Fort William, Highland
For more Scots poetry go to our Young Makars page.
Although all the 2009 competitions are now finished, here is the Bards and Beasties competition pack for you to try the Scots activities whenever you want:
Bards & Beasties Scots Poetry Competition Pack (120 Kb)| Photie (12-16 years) |
Writing a Monologue in Scots FOR OLDER WRITERS
First place: Kieran McDermott, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
Saicont place: Jennifer Imrie, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
Third place: Liam Coakley, Holycross High School, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Photie spiered aulder pupils tae tak a photograph fae ony aspect o Scottish life and scrievin a poem aboot whit they saw in the photie. Kieran McDermott’s poem Spyin inspired by a photie o a sparrahawk wis the clear winner but follaed no aw that far ahint by Jennifer Imrie’s excellent T in the Park and Liam Coakley’s galllus poem Tennis Baw.
1st place
Spyin
Ah bide in the woods, it’s a guid place tae be,
Ah flit intae the city tae see whit ah can see,
Ah’ll be buzzin roon the skies, chasin wee kimmers for ma tea
When ah’m flittin roon the big buildins, ah’ll feel nae pity,
Fur ma next bit ay prey, that ah’m gonnae scoop up frae above.
A wee sparra, a craw or even a dove.
Best ay the Scottish hunters, ah never fail tae get ma denner.
Ma big yella een will be watchin ye,
It’s fur the best if ye dinnae mess wi me.
Kieran McDermott, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
2nd place
T in the Park
Hunners ae tourists, trampin me doo.
Dauncin aboot tae the sound of the band.
Withoot a care in the world.
Naebudy notices whit they’re staunin oan.
Poor, auld, wee me.
Treat me like a coup, and throw their junk aw ower the place.
But you cannae beat the atmosphere,
When the bands start playin
An the crowds go pure mental!
An even though it has its doonsides,
It’s worth it tae see the huge grins on their faces.
An the hilarity o the tummlin, haunless drunken yins.
Fawin an trippin ower nocht at aw.
But that’s the point, in’t it?
Tae hae fun.
Campin oot, oan tap ae me, when I’m aw wet an clarty.
Then wakin up, an jumpin aboot tae the bands,
That hae come tae bonnie Scotland
In the cauld July sun.
It’s never warm in Scotland
But naebudy cares.
An then, at the end ae the weekend,
They aw pack up an go
And leave me by masel.
Naebudy cares –
Aifter aw, I’m jist plain auld borin gress.
Jennifer Imrie, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
3rd place
Tennis Baw
Ah am a Wimbledon tennis baw.
Ah wis in a tin Can sleepin wae ma brithers in Sports Direct.
We goat swept affy the shelf by Venus Williams.
I didnae huv a clue where we were heidit until she opened us up oan her scullery bunker. Lurkin ablow wis her big dug, mair like a hoond.
Wan o ma brers fell aff the bunker and the dug goat it and chittled him tae death.
ME and ma other brers couldnae bare tae luik at wan mair second o this tragedy.
Venus sauntered back tae the scullery, sent the hoond oot and binned ma brer,
the slevvered Eric.
She aboot turned and grabbed ma bawheid and went ootside wae jist me and her new tennis bat.
It was a braw Wilson K Blade.
She threw me up in the sir and as ah came plummetin doon tae earth
BANG
ah went skitin o’er the net
and ah landed in the serve boax -
Ah hud jist aced her sister.
Liam Coakley, Holycross High School, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Highly Commended
Nessie, Frankie Graham
Duke o Wellington, Rebecca Johnston, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
A Scottish Twist, Emily Munn, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
The Last Staun, Tom Gibson, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
A belang tae Glesgae, Paddy Brotherson, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
The Fitba, Lee Hughes, Holycross High School, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
M8, Eve Comerford, Glasgow Gaelic School
The Excited Basket Baw, Christopher Tierney, Holycross High School, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Special Mentions
Gleneagles, Kirsty Philip, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
Hampden Stadium, Jordan Clark, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
Anywhere Else But Scotland Will Do, Rosie Meikle, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
Yer Sodgers Noo, Lawrence Owens, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
Edinburgh Film Hing, Kevin Chan, Greenwood Academy, North Ayrshire
Durty Dug, Leigh McGrory, Holycross High School, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
The Chair, Joe Hepburn, Holycross High School, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Gordon Broon, Nina Stirling, Glasgow Gaelic School
Untitled, Jamie Dayan S2, James Gillespie's High School, Edinburgh
Although all the 2009 competitions are now finished, here is the Photie competition pack for you to try the Scots activities whenever you want::
Photie Scots Poetry Competition Pack (126 Kb)