|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
howmucharefags
Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 299
Location: Eskisehir
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:52 am Post subject: Scottish Poetry in Class |
 |
|
I'm trying to teach my students some Robert Burns at the moment with little success.
Tae A Fert
Oh whit sleekit horrible beastie
Lurks in yer belly efter the feastie
Just as ye sit doon among yer kin
There sterts to stir an enormous wind
The neeps n tatties and mushy peas
Stert workin like a gentle breeze
But soon the puddin wi the sauncie face
Will hae ye blawin all ower the place
Nae matter whit the hell ye dae
A'bodys gonnae huv tae pay
Even if ye try to stifle
It's like a bullet oot a rifle
Hawd yer bum tight tae the chair
Tae try and stop the leakin air
Shifty yersel fae cheek tae cheek
Prae tae God it disnae reek
But awe yer efferts go assunder
Oot it comes like a clap o thunder
Ricochets aroon the room
Michty me a sonic boom
Good God almighty it fairly reeks
Hope I huvnae crapped ma breeks
Tae the bog I better scurry
Awe whit the hell, it's no ma worry
A'body roon aboot me chokin
Wan or two are cleary bokin
I'll feel better fur a while
Ah cannae help but raise a smile
Wis him ! I shout with accusin glower
Alas too late, he's jist keeled ower
Ye dirty bugger they shout n stare
Ah dinnae feel welcome ony mair
Where e're ye go let yer wind gan' free
Sounds like jist the joab for me
Whit a fuss at Rabbie's perty
Ower the sake o' wan wee ferty
It was going well but they still haven't grasped the idea of Burns. When I was living in Govan in Glasgow before coming to Turkey my wee Maw used to say to me ' You'll stand in front of the fire unbtil your Rabbie Burns or your Willie Waddells '. No wonder I'm mental. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
Yir maw sounds wise. waddel what a manager.
You're a brave man trying Burns when you consider Scotland's other famous Big Rab (C. Nesbit) had to be subtitled over the border.
Why not start with the world's worst poet McGonagall.
http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk/
My favourite being
There was a coo
in a field
It's no there noo
It must huv shifted |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nargile57
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 42
Location: Istanbul
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Is he the poet who wrote about the bridge over the silvery Tay, also poems about borrowing money? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
Is this the one you mean?
| Quote: |
The Tay Bridge Disaster
Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay!
Alas! I am very sorry to say
That ninety lives have been taken away
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.
'Twas about seven o'clock at night,
And the wind it blew with all its might,
And the rain came pouring down,
And the dark clouds seem'd to frown,
And the Demon of the air seem'd to say-
"I'll blow down the Bridge of Tay."
When the train left Edinburgh
The passengers' hearts were light and felt no sorrow,
But Boreas blew a terrific gale,
Which made their hearts for to quail,
And many of the passengers with fear did say-
"I hope God will send us safe across the Bridge of Tay."
But when the train came near to Wormit Bay,
Boreas he did loud and angry bray,
And shook the central girders of the Bridge of Tay
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.
So the train sped on with all its might,
And Bonnie Dundee soon hove in sight,
And the passengers' hearts felt light,
Thinking they would enjoy themselves on the New Year,
With their friends at home they lov'd most dear,
And wish them all a happy New Year.
So the train mov'd slowly along the Bridge of Tay,
Until it was about midway,
Then the central girders with a crash gave way,
And down went the train and passengers into the Tay!
The Storm Fiend did loudly bray,
Because ninety lives had been taken away,
On the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.
As soon as the catastrophe came to be known
The alarm from mouth to mouth was blown,
And the cry rang out all o'er the town,
Good Heavens! the Tay Bridge is blown down,
And a passenger train from Edinburgh,
Which fill'd all the peoples hearts with sorrow,
And made them for to turn pale,
Because none of the passengers were sav'd to tell the tale
How the disaster happen'd on the last Sabbath day of 1879,
Which will be remember'd for a very long time.
It must have been an awful sight,
To witness in the dusky moonlight,
While the Storm Fiend did laugh, and angry did bray,
Along the Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay,
Oh! ill-fated Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay,
I must now conclude my lay
By telling the world fearlessly without the least dismay,
That your central girders would not have given way,
At least many sensible men do say,
Had they been supported on each side with buttresses,
At least many sensible men confesses,
For the stronger we our houses do build,
The less chance we have of being killed. |
Crap innit? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nargile57
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 42
Location: Istanbul
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| That's the one, it certainly brings back......er,.......memories! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:52 pm Post subject: Still Game |
|
|
Talk of Rab C. Nesbitt has reminded me of our recent discovery. A series produced in Glasgow by BBC Scotland a while back. Now on DVD, it is called 'STILL GAME'
This is true poetry and a wonderful antidote to the Compton Mackenzie school ! If you liked 'Monarch of the Glen', you will hate this ! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
howmucharefags
Joined: 30 Nov 2004
Posts: 299
Location: Eskisehir
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Those flats in Still Game are actually in Maryhill, Glasgow. My wee cousin sells tenner deals of hash from there. Ask for John Holmes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Caledonian Craig
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 34
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Regarding the teaching of poetry in Scots, Learning Teaching Scotland provides a compendium of oinline resources including audiofiles and ideas for lessons. You can access this by going to
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/
and putting 'Scots poetry' into the search box. You'll find a reference here to the Tam O'Shanter interactive CD Rom that some of your schools might already have.
http://www.cityofliterature.com/upload/documents/2_WEBPACK-school-scottish.pdf
The Scottish Storytelling Centre and the Scottish Poetry library are useful places for finding out more about Scots literature. For more ideas about teaching poetry in general, look at the Poetry Library's website
http://www.poetrylibrary.org.uk/
They have a children's zone with plenty of links and good ideas.
Hope this helps
Craig[/url] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
