In Memoriam, William Martin

"Ah'm an Atheist, but ownly as far as God's concorned."

Keen, hinnies: 

wor bonny singer's tekken bad 

& been tekken' away from w'

th'll nivvor be another.

Keen skyarks ower the barleyfied;

keen spuggies in the hedges.

Keen, bairns o' Beveridge;

keen, marras under the banners.

Gan t' Gala keenin

but gan to Cuddie's big chorch

t' celebrate  this sacred

brother iv  Bede & Biscop;

brother iv Aidan & Hilda;

bairn iv Caedmon & Skipsy;

brother iv aal us poets

left scatchin in the dust behind 'im.

Keen, aal yeez poets, 

iv yez hev en eor t' lisen;

& a tung thet's

worth th' hevven.

Keen gently, kindred

sin ee trod the orth see kindly

sin 'is words w' aall a blessin'

sin 'is voice was rich as amber 

Haad y' gobs aal others:

'e foond the worm iv language

& 'e nortured 

& nivvor cut it

but teased it frem th' mothregyet

& wrapped it in its spirals

aroond the hill iv vision

& aroond the hill iv 'is people:

noo w'll aall gan quiet:

the maister's given ower singin

& th's nairn left's 'is equal;

silence is best praise

Peter Armstrong

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