Scottish Poetry Selection
- The Sair Finger

I remember learning the poem "The Sair Finger" (The Sore Finger) by Walter Wingate at school - and that was a long time ago!


The Sair Finger

You've hurt your finger? Puir wee man!
Your pinkie? Deary me!
Noo, juist you haud it that wey till
I get my specs and see!

My, so it is - and there's the skelf!
Noo, dinna greet nae mair.
See there - my needle's gotten't out!
I'm sure that wasna sair?

And noo, to make it hale the morn,
Put on a wee bit saw,
And tie a Bonnie hankie roun't
Noo, there na - rin awa'!

Your finger sair ana'? Ye rogue,
You're only lettin' on.
Weel, weel, then - see noo, there ye are,
Row'd up the same as John!

Meaning of unusual words:
skelf=splinter of wood
saw=salve
row'd up=wrapped up

Return to the Index of Walter Wingate Poems or the General Index of Scottish Poetry



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