Fine Div I Mind!
Fine div I mind on the days of auld lang syne
And the things that ye mention in the words o’ yer rhyme
Most of which are gone or hae slipped into the past
But the ravages o’ time canna dim fine memories that last
Ye mention a’ the worthies and the characters o’ that time
The shoppies sellin sweeties ye can nae longer find
Div ye mind on Eric Ross, Jimmy Hendry and Bert Laird?
Eric selt the semmits, Jimmy and Bert the shoen o’ suede
I mind wi’ my dear pal Margaret, gaitherin’ spinkies oot the braes
Comin’ hame an’ getting a ragin’ for hae’n dubs a’ ower oor claes
Guddlin’ trooties wi’ my cousin Hamish, doon at Nicol’s burn
He wis a dab hand at it – a different story fan it wis ma turn
Margaret and me played shoppies wi’ the stanes doon at the beach
Ran up the bank an’ ower the wa’ fin oor bellies began to screech
How guid oor denner tasted – soup made wi’ a big knap bone
Then back again when we were fed, happy and never a moan
Div ye mind when a’body gaed walkin’ on a Sunday afterneen?
If ye wanted to catch up wi’ folk, that’s whar they would be seen
The favourite place wis round the Durn and back into the toon
And if ye were afa lucky, ye’d get a date fae a bonny loon!
Mind the train loads at the Station at the start o’ the Glesga Fair?
The toon wis fairly buzzin an’ they came back each year for mair
The special Gala dances were held in the Toon Hall
Wi’ oor summer frocks an’ high heels we’d hae passed for the belles o’ the ball
Mind how warm the days wad be an’ how’t wad melt the tar?
The bubbles that rase on the roads made funny noises wi’ the cars
How we sat on teh edge o’ the pavements, burstin’ each ane wi’ a match
Getting oor claes a’ clartit wi’ the tar, so a richt row we wid catch
But we’ll aye mind o’ these fine days, for we’re the worthies noo
The toon’s a’ changed an’ time’s moved on – I’ve been awa since I wis twenty-two
I see the young anes growin’ up – wonder whit their memories will be?
Certainly nae sae guid as oors – and that’s a certainty
Lovely poem Rona – Mum would have been so pleased to see her name up there!
Pam McGregor (daughter of Margaret McKay)