Dirge (Scots) Poem by Sheena Blackhall

The original Lyke-Wake Dirge is a 14th century funeral chant from Cleveland, North Yorkshire, where it was sung by a woman during the traditional watch (wake) at the side of the corpse (lyke) .

Dirge

Ye left me in the Simmer blythe
The first tae weer awa
An pyson robbed ye o yer life
For Daith dis pairt us aa

Ma ain, ma first-born, bonnie loon
The first tae weer awa
Abeen yer mools ma tears drap doon
For Daith dis pairt us aa

Nae pairtin kiss, nae fond fareweel
The first tae weer awa
Sorra has plooed a deidly dreel
For Daith dis pairt us aa

In Winter cauld, in sna, in rain
The first tae weer awa
Yer loss has cut me tae the bane
For Daith dis pairt us aa

An guilt has gralloched aa ma days
The first tae weer awa
That I hae added tae yer waes!
For Daith dis pairt us aa

The meen will tummle frae the nicht
The first tae weer awa
Afore yer myndin burns less bricht
For Daith dis pairt us aa

I wirk, I ett, I drink, I sleep
The first tae weer awa
Bit aye inbye, unseen, I weep,
For Daith dis pairt us aa

Sae I maun murn, until we meet
The first tae weer awa
Bit bein auld, ma years are fleet
We'll tryst far lilies faa