Snawman

Snawman
(A Winter Talisman)
by Johnny Cunningham

I cannae wait for heavy snaw
Fu white and cream like larded fat
Twa lumps o coal and a carrot gnarled
And Dad’s auld tweedie fishin hat
Fine length o shawl fu bricht and gallus
Like wool aurora borealis

And wi ruddy cheeks and mittens aff
Ma fingers chappit blue and cauld
I’ll rowl a snawbaw roond the yaird
And a braw big snawman I wid mould
I’ll face him lookin ower the glen
Tae see the winter days blaw past
And guard the kye up on the knowes
Through shivering winds and icy blast

A frozen sentinel he will stand
Cauld talisman for field and farm
Black embered eyes and warded broom
Tae keep us aw frae devils’ harm

And when auld winter’s season’s gone
We’ll pit the snawman’s meltin’s in a cup
And at the springtime’s dewy dawn
We’ll gaither roond and tak a sup
And toast his fareweel –
Job weel done, farewell the Moon
And welcome Sun.