Next Stop Kirkcaldy!

I love travelling by train and yesterday I went on a trip to Glasgow.

The journey back reminded me of this Scottish poem by Mary Campbell Smith about a young boy arriving in Kirkcaldy to visit his granny. As a kid, arriving on the train at Kirkcaldy was really exciting as my Uncle Andy worked at the station and was usually there to collect our tickets. Then my cousin would drive us along to Pittenweem to stay with my granny. Of course, when I was really young you could take the train all the way to Pittenweem … but that’s another story.

The Boy in the Train

Whit wey does the engine say ‘Toot-toot’? 
Is it feart to gang in the tunnel? 
Whit wey is the furnace no pit oot 
When the rain gangs doon the funnel? 
What’ll I hae for my tea the nicht? 
A herrin’, or maybe a haddie? 
Has Gran’ma gotten electric licht? 
Is the next stop Kirkcaddy?

There’s a hoodie-craw on yon turnip-raw! 
An’ seagulls! – sax or seeven. 
I’ll no fa’ oot o’ the windae, Maw, 
Its sneckit, as sure as I’m leevin’. 
We’re into the tunnel! we’re a’ in the dark! 
But dinna be frichtit, Daddy, 
We’ll sune be comin’ to Beveridge Park, 
And the next stop’s Kirkcaddy!

Is yon the mune I see in the sky? 
It’s awfu’ wee an’ curly, 
See! there’s a coo and a cauf ootbye, 
An’ a lassie pu’in’ a hurly! 
He’s chackit the tickets and gien them back, 
Sae gie me my ain yin, Daddy. 
Lift doon the bag frae the luggage rack, 
For the next stop’s Kirkcaddy!

There’s a gey wheen boats at the harbour mou’, 
And eh! dae ya see the cruisers? 
The cinnamon drop I was sookin’ the noo 
Has tummelt an’ stuck tae ma troosers. . . 
I’ll sune be ringin’ ma Gran’ma’s bell, 
She’ll cry, ‘Come ben, my laddie’, 
For I ken mysel’ by the queer-like smell 
That the next stop’s Kirkcaddy!

~ by marysia on 17 July 2011.