Poems by Sharon Reaper
A drink nae twa keeps the Grim Reaper awa

A pome fir the faimly chiel.

 ‘Come awa in, come awa in.
I’ll tak ye tae the dying yin,’
Mistress Robina winked at her guest:
whit an awfie ane she wis tae jest.
Fou raing did his huidit cloak swurl:
boy wis he led a merry pirl.
Efter her ivver-rushing an’
weel-worn heels, he fecklishly ran
‘til they reaked the maister’s chaumber,
whaur Hamish wis in deep slumber.
Jist afore they entered his room,
their lugs were hit by a lood boom:
grating coafs an’ rasping wheezes
interspersed wi’ fou force sneeshes.
Robina cudna stan the sair blare,
an’ sae swith heided back doonstair.

Frae aneath his cosy cover,
Hamish witnessed the Dour Cutter.
He got sic a hairt-stappin’ fricht,
The puir sowl lowped his ain heicht.
Aff the ruif banged Hamish’s noggin,
the huidit figure bid standin’.
Hamish sterted recitin’ guid words:
lyrics nae in tune lik sangburds.

Wi’ the alias Dr Cronus,
bemangt prey wis sic a bonus.
Bewaur o’ his cald beeny cleuks,
fir they haud glancie split-new hooks,
an’ monie ither hackin’ tuils
that niver could tolerate fuils.
The wee Rob Sorby wis nae match
fir the hey-sned’s deep cuttin’ scratch.

Hamish wis a firm believer
in drinkin’ tae ward aff fever.
Noo a fullie-fledged drouthie
back tae snoozle he went droosie.

Gettin’ a dose o’ his ain graith,
his drames were boglie by dreich daith.
Waukenin wi’ a suddent start:
frae this warld he wudna depart

A remedy sae bittersweet
ca’d fir a tap saicret receipt.
Jist ane ingredient wis kent:
Herr o’ the dug, pulled wi’ consent.
Frae MacDougall, his freenlie pooch,
Dr Cronus likly did mooch
‘is key bittie o’ the potion.
Man’s best freen – suithfast devotion.

‘Feel free tae hae a cup o’ cheer,
but pass up a hail crate o’ beer.
Dae ‘is each an’ ivverie day,
an’ it daith’s door niver agane stray.’
Dr Cronus boded wice wirds
at Hamish wud mind efterwards.
He bade the guid doctor fareweel,
thenking him fir sic a fair deal.
Hauf-roads throu her polishing chore,
Robina saw him tae the front door.

Translated terms for the poem 'A drink
nae twa keeps the Grim Reaper awa'
(listed in order they are placed in poem)