Creepy Wullie Poem by PAUL COLVIN

The year is 1759 when beggars wandered darkened lanes
Meeting up with tramps and thieves, and cursed were the weans.
The poor could not afford to eat, so stole whatever came their way
The hawked their loot, and got a bob, the pawn, a friend to save the day.

William Morton, lived in pain, and was known the city over,
A troubled man cos of his looks, became the Edinburgh Rover.
His face deformed, was made to move, for folks could not abide,
This hideous, bedraggled man, who took Satan on his side.

He tried to make some friends in life, but no-one seemed to care
They taunted him by throwing stones, forcing him to go elsewhere.
One day he made, to take a stand, and threw stones back, at will,
He only meant to hurt the boy, never meaning for to kill.

The angry mob, unruly crowd, killed him in their ire,
Then carried off his body, limp, and built his funeral pyre.
This evil man, the devil’s aide, had lived in fear of people
Now these same people, burned him down, beneath the old church steeple.

Now he’s back to haunt the girls, the ones who never cried
For all were there on his last day and stoned him ‘til he died.
He needs revenge, to make amends, for what those people done
And out at night, when darkness comes, he’s going to have his fun.

He’ll lurk about street corners and the alleys he will coast,
All hunched up, with long black coat, it’s Creepy Wullie’s ghost.
A myth they said, an old wives’ tale, the man priests would not bless
Is all around, he won’t be found, you can’t see him to address.

The evil from within him called, to bring the Devil’s glare
Then black and purple hazy mists, would sweep up rising stairs.
They’d come to halt, on lobby dank, and there would be a fusion
And from the mist, appeared Wullie’s ghost: No, this is no illusion!

The dark and dingy gas lit streets of Edinburgh’s old town,
Those cobbled streets and creepy wynds, is where he hung around
Eyeing pretty helpless lasses, those who can’t defend,
Offering them safe passage but it was evil, he’d intend.

He’s not been seen in this old town, for nigh on one whole year
That doesn’t mean he won’t appear, he could be hiding near!
So if you see that coloured mist, swirling in a close
You must take heed, cos that’s the sign of Creepy Wullie’s ghost!
He’s everywhere you care to look, old build he will use
Disguised as ugly gargoyle, perched high with best of views.
In Churchyard graves, on Parish gates, maybe in a Knave.
Beware! For he’ll creep up on you and put you in your grave!

So Hark! You honest Jessies, when climbing up the stairs,
You’d best get down on bended knee, and say some Holy prayers
Cos that’s just what you’ll have to do, if walking in the dark,
For when a clouded mist forms over you, that’s Creepy Wullie’s mark!