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Learning in Literature

The Bletherie Leathery Baw Gemme

Categorised in: Poetry

Each New Year's Day in Blethertoun they play
A muckle fitbaw gemme aw through the toun,
Atween the folk that bide up on the brae
And the ither folk whase hames are further doon.

It's been aroond a century or mair,
This Bletherie Leathery Baw Gemme (as it's cried).
There's no much fitbaw in it, tae be fair -
It's jist a rammy, hunners on each side.

The Braeheid team hae jist wan aim in mind:
Tae punt the baw intae the auld canal.
The Doontoun mob, hooever, are inclined
Tae get it past the war memorial.

The Provost lobs the baw - the crowd stampedes,
A nine-oor sweatin, gruntin fecht begins -
A boorachie o legs and airms and heids,
Wi broken teeth and battered nebs and shins.

Last year the haill thing ended in a draw -
Baith sides peched oot, and neither yin the winner.
A dug frae Deid End Street picked up the baw,
Ran aff wi it and ett it for his dinner.

Angus Glen