A poem - the Eemis stane, by Hugh MacDiarmid

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I' the how-dumb-deid o' the cauld hairst nicht
The warl' like an eemis stane
Wags i' the lift;
An' my eerie memories fa'
Like a yowdendrift.

Like a yowdendrift so's I couldna read
The words cut oot i' the stane
Had the fug o' fame
An' history's hazelraw
No' yirdit thaim.

  

from Sangschaw (1925)

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The poem is written in a pastiche of medieval Scottish (‘Inglis’) plus dialect words

The Eemis Stane = the unsteady stone

How-dumb-deid = depth, darkest point

Hairst = harvest

Lift = sky

Yowdendrift = blizzard

Fug = moss

Hazelraw = lichen

Yirdit = buried

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I began reading Hugh MacDiarmid (1992-1978) in 1983, when I was at a low ebb due to being continually tired by overtime night shift work, while a junior doctor. 

As an escape I learned by heart a few of MacD’s short lyrics, which I would repeat to myself from time to time, while out and about. The above was one of my particular favourites.

The poetry is in the build-up to the climactic ‘wags i’ the lift’ and in the last line – which is awkward but intrigued me. 


In general, I prefer smooth and euphonious poetry; but MacD's unfamiliar and only partly-understandable, mysteriously-hinting words provided a friction which forced me to slow-down and pay more attention. 

I find that some of the most effective poetry is in transitions from one line to another, the sudden and perpetually-unexpected shift.

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