Efter Da Humin

[Guest Anonymous]

"Eftir Da Humin" brought back a particular memory to me. Of a poem called "Da New Mön"

 

I accidentally learned it when I was a peerie bairn.

 

Dastreen i da hömin whin gaain tae da byre

wi a sap o baes maet tae da kye

I cuist my ee up, an dere, richt abön da tail o da wart

I saw da new mön.

 

Boanie an bricht laek a bent siller wire

sae vaeve laek agenst da mirk sky.

Fu shö grws an wans I neever kent richt,

naturs plan is a mystery ta me.

 

Bit a'm aye hed ta tocht dat shö cam as a gift,

A grit lowin collie hung up i da lift

Ta licht da dark gaets on a cauld winters nicht

An help wis puir mortals ta see.

 

 

 

I've likely forgotten some of it over the 45 years since I learned it. But if anybody knows who wrote it, and where it's published, I'd love to know. (it could have been "Northern Lichts"}

And I'd also love to have a correction of the words from anybody who knows the poem.

[dorfus chucklepants]

"Da New Mon" is by John Nicolson (1876-1951)

 

I found it in a book called A Shetland Anthology, edited by the Graham brothers and produced in 1998 by the Shetland Publishing Company.

 

Here's the entire poem (Aald Rasmie minded her braaly weel) but apologies because I haven't figured out how to do the umlauts so I put the letters where they should be in bold.

 

Da streen i da homin whin gyaan i da byre

Wi a sap o baess-maet ta da kye,

I cost me ee up, an dere right abon

Da tail o da Wart, I saw da new mon;

Boanie an clear laek a bent siller wire,

Sae veeve-laek fornenst da mirk sky.

 

Foo sho growes an waans I never kent richt:

Naiter's plan is a mystery ta me,

Bit A'm aye hed da toucht at sho cam as a gift -

A big lowin kolli hung up i da lift,

Ta licht da dark gaets on da black murky night

An help wis por mortals ta see.

 

I stod an I mosed at da end of da stack,

An waited fir Ibbie cam furt -

"My Faader," said sho, "What a vyld-lookin mon,

Tak ye my wird, da fine wadder is done,

It's never a god sign whan sho lies on her back

Wi da aald een richt in her skurt."

[tirvaluk]

Well, well. Wha wid o tocht dat "Stoorbra Hill" wis a Googlewhack - my first ever, I tink.

 

I wis waantin ta fin oot mair aboot a sang at I minded fae da skule an da saerch eenjin took me right back ta Shetlink!

Wha wis it dat cam wi dis sang first an dis onybody keen whaur I wid fin da wirds tae it?

Stoorbra Hill can be found in Christine Guys book "Songs & Sights Of Shetland", the words were by Vagaland and the tune by Tom Georgeson.

[Guest Anonymous]

@ dorfus chucklepants..

Forgot about this thread, and only now saw your correct version of the poem.

Many thanks for adding that, and details of the author.

Oddly enough I just recently acquired a copy of "A Shetland Anthology", it's a fantastic book.

[dorfus chucklepants]

Auld Rasmie said:

Oddly enough I just recently acquired a copy of "A Shetland Anthology", it's a fantastic book.

 

I agree, even though I don't claim any great knowledge or appreciation of poetry.

 

I like to dip in it from time to time, often just revisiting some of the old classics learnt at school such as Auld Maunsie's Cro (still can't do the umlaut thing) or Scranna.

 

A particular favourite is 'Fir Rhoda' by Robert Johnson because to me you can really hear the poet's voice when reading it.

[brunalf]

i hae both copys vol 1 an vol 2,if you're needin a loan o dem,but dey're no fur sale a'm afraid.

breifly on da subject o shetland books and poetery,i tink da book "TANE WI DA TROW"should be teached in aa shetland schools,exelent fur poetery and a good history lesson too.

[Sparky4mm]

Does anyone have the words for the poem 'Tirval and Me' recited by Jessie Smith on Efter da Humin Volume 1 (LP), or a copy would be great.

 

Any ideas? thanks

[brunalf]

dus doo hae a shivel fur dis snaa?hee hee

dey say patience is a virtue,dunna worry it's gean nae whar.

spik eftir.

[Kephas4]

^^No, but I ken someen dat does...

 

Hi All,

 

I own an LP of music from Shetland, entitled ' Efter Da Humin'

 

What is the meaning of this - presumably, 'After the ?'

 

The LP dates from 1966. For those who are unfamiliar with LPs, they are also known as 'Vinyl' and preceded CDs.

 

Ta very much for any info.

[Sparky4mm]

Thanks so much, I have managed to track down a copy, joost have to wait for the snow to clear!

[Fjool]

Merged with an existing thread on the LP 'Efter Da Humin'