A God-Fearin' Lass

A little poem in Scots, language of the Scottish Lowlands. Spelling is tonal.

A God-Fearin’ Lass

When in canty mood
I roam the moors
Wi’o’ a care i’ the warld,
I take muckle care to skirt the place
Thocht to be favour’d by the elves.

Noo I’ve nowt against the wee folk,
’Tis juist I’m a God-fearin’ lass,
An’ the noo young pastor, bless him,
(Sae braw and couthie, ye ken)—
Weel, I’d liefer not risk his offence.


vocabulary
canty: lively, cheerful
warld: world
muckle: great
skirt: avoid
thocht: thought
noo: new
nowt:nothing
juist: just
sae: so
braw: fine, handsome, good-looking
couthie: agreeable, friendly
ken: know
weel: well
liefer: rather