Hello all,
"Toddlin' doon the brae"
Is a wonderful poem by James Donaghy (1882-1947) born in Auchinleck and lived in Muirkirk.
TODDLIN’ DOON THE BRAE
Yestreen a puir auld beggar man
Cam toddlin’ doon the brae,
His feet were sair, his face was wan,
His shaggy beard was grey.
Some whaips o’ boys were playin’ there,
Wha’d nae mair sense than kye,
Foe sneers and jeers they didna spare
As he gaed hirplin’ by.
The puir auld man had heard their crack,
An’, slowly turnin’ roon’,
Tae that hauf-glaikit, senseless pack
He read a lecture soun’;
‘Oh boys,’ he said, ‘I’m way tae see
Ye stop yer hairmless play
Tae rile a puir auld man like me
Wha’s toddlin’ doon the brae.’
‘This life,’ said he ‘is yae lang brae
We a’ maun toddle doon;’ wee,
Ha’e a’ their pairts tae play,
An’ you, my boys, are just like me,
Ye’re toddlin’ doon the brae.’
‘The sky sae blue that smiles on you
Yince looked as fair on me,
An’ visions bright that meet yer view,
I yince masel’ could see.
Ye’re on the road that I ha’e trod
This mony a lang, lang day;
Tho’ braid’s yer back an’’ licht yer load,
Ye’re toddlin’ doon the brae.
‘The road, I’m share, tae you looks fair,
But oh, ye little ken
There’s kittle places here an’ there
That try the best o’ men.
So when ye meet wi’ yin like me
Wha’s feeble, auld and grey,
Jist whisper tae yersel, that he
Is toddlin’ doon the brae.’
‘I hope ye’ll no, be angry noo,
If I’ve been kind o’ snell;
God grant your troubles may be few,
For I’ve had lots masel.’
Then, as the boys gaed ower the stile
I heard the wanderer say,
‘May fortune smile on you the while
Ye’re toddlin’ doon the brae.’
Weel cowed, they a’ gaed slinkin’ hame,
An’ pleased was I tae see
On every face a look o’ shame,
A tear in every e’e.
Then, turnin’ slowly roon’ again,
The auld man went his way,
An’, limpin’ on through wind an’ rain,
Gaed toddle’ doon the brae.
"Toddlin' doon the brae" by James Donaghy is so funny - but sadly true of life!
Regards
Charles
