Listen to Bruce Eunson read a Winter Poem on www.shetlanddialect.org.uk.

A Winter Poem

When it snaas ida toon
Wi a sooth-aesterly wind
It blaas doon fae da Knab
Layin a blanket ower Breiwick Rod

It nestles in tae nyooks an crannies
Finnin a hom alang da Sletts
An it dusts itsell on da window sills
O da peerie matchbox hoose

An if der’s enough at comes
Den parents birze ee lug tae da wireless
Tae hear if da schools ir shut
An da bairns ir bidin hom

No dat dey’ll bide in, mind you

Dey’ll be oot ballin snaa baas
Dir fingers pink
Dir knees weet
Hivvin dir ain peerie spree
Tearin aboot da playparks
An da snaa-haepit streets

Bruce Eunson