William Wilson (1869-1925)

Still finding treasures - it appears that my great-grandfather penned many poems, in good Scots and on various subjects.   Here is an example, written in his neat hand.

These lines composed and written by Wm Wilson, L’pool, March 17th 1892.
After having a short illness the first day I went out for a walk I met a friend who told me I did not look so well.    I made the following lines.


Tae stir ma’ legs the ither day
I gaed for a bit walk
By chance a’ met a neibor’ frien
an’ we baith got on the talk.


“An’ what’s tae dae wi you” he said
Was his but kind remark.
“Have e’e been by some auld kirkyard
an’ met a deid man in the dark?”


“All tell e’e what it is ma frien
Ah’ve been on the seek list cast.
Perhaps tae punish me that wie
For wrang da’ings in the past.


But what it be for ah cannie tell
But am better and feel gled.
An auld saying - better we’er yer bits
Than sheets upon a bed.”


An’ noo ah’ll turn ma heid for hame,
Like Lot’s wife did unco baul,
For the best o’ men can things owre dae
And turn them so’or as gall.


Noo a’ ye michty poo’rs abune
I greatly do ye thank
When frae ma troubles ye’ve brought oot
Wherein I might hae sank.


When I was a small boy my grandmother would take me every week to put flowers on his grave in Troqueer Cemetery, Dumfries.  

His closing plea can hardly be ignored.