Click here to hear the poet read his words:
Hallowe’en
aw Scotland’s scary myths and legends
fae Tam o Shanter tae Sawney Bean
creep and slither yince mair fae the shadows
each year the nicht o Hallowe’en
(interlude)
nae bairn can contain their excitement
as the end of October draws near
each wee brain fair itches
as they think about witches
it is the scariest night of the year
aye Hallowe’en’s a nicht o fear-filled frolics
as long as you ca canny
ye micht see a de’il
or a bogle for real
if you keek in each impenetrably dark nook and cranny
some traditions have lasted forever and ever
some changes we find quite surprising
in the US it’s neat
to say trick or treat
but in Scotland for the past 500 years we call it guising
there’s ay laughter and games for the wee yins
with treacle scones hung on a loosely-strung string
just mind your thrapple
when dookin for apples
in case a wild wean wi a sharp-pronged fork takes a swing
everyone carves out a lacklustre lantern
we use turnips but some folk use pumpkins
we may be old fashioned
but please show compassion
and don’t confuse us with near-extinct country bumpkins
though it’s now all modern and commercialised
we aw continue to do things we’re no supposed tae
it’s still the nerve-numbing night
that causes face-freezing fright
when we walk wi all sorts of gruesome ghouls and ghastly ghosties
Hallowe’en is the annual haunt of the bogeyman
he frightens the bravest bairns out of their hat-disguised heads
he has never been seen
but does that really just mean
he is hiding patiently under your bed?
*Glossary of Terms:
aye – yes
ca’ canny – take care
bogle – a bad thing, a spectre, a goblin
keek – look
ay – always
thrapple – throat, windpipe
dookin’ – ducking, trying to capture from a large basin or bath
wean, bairn – child
tae – to
bogeyman – boogeyman (USA), very bad (hopefully) imaginary person
Sound Bite Fiction 
This was amazing my friend. I do enjoy the Halloween tales.
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How did I miss this? Great sound effects and quite creepy ending. I love hearing of other traditions, and dare I say, dream of holidays far less commercial than they are here in the US. Your voice is always a delight and brightens my day!
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I loved listening to the audio while reading it. (I had no idea what “guising” meant; I had to look it up 🙂 )
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Like I said, we’ve been calling it that for 500 years, and it’s only in the last 10 minutes or so that the Americans have been saying ‘Trick or Treat’!
Very happy you visited and enjoyed reading and listening, I hope you’ll come again.
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I know! I vaguely remember reading that somewhere, but it was nice to be reminded of the fact that it’s in the last 10 mins or so that Americans have been saying happy Halloween 🙂
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Superb! This made my day, perfect in every way!
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Thank you, Nancy!
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Spooky or what!
Excellent sound effects to send chills up the spine and a reading to match,
You have a great Scottish accent when needed!
And a ghostly nostalgic trip down a memory lane from my childhood.
At least – I hope it’s just a memory, for the bogeyman could still be …
No, he couldn’t, could he?
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Hallowe’en is for having fun, and being a wee bit scary!
Och aye the noo, as no Scot ever said!
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