Twa Heids

Fair Heid, norlin pointin,
Michtie heilan shoother
Jundyin tha watter. Juttin
Wi a big J,
Rid han at airm’s lenth
Tae baith sides, thaim an iz
Ulstèr-Scotch, wha hae
Thon shoart dash betwixt tha twa
Tha strang mither-dochter coard.
Five solemn leagues apairt an near
As monie Coveynants.

Forenenst Tor Heid an aa -
Last stan or brig-heid,
Or jist tha key
Tae it aa?
Mullin ower
Fergus an Tha Bruce
Brithers baith
Büll-heidit
Men o Tor.


Ulstèr-Scotch we hae
Thon wee shoart dash betwixt tha twa.
But noo, is riz
Learin haaks, twustin
Awa abane oor heids.
Huntin tha hyphen
Tae brak tha cleek an grup tha sinnert bairn.
Afore tha scaldie growes its ain
Eagle’s Wïngs.

Twustin mair nor tha haaks,
Doon unner
Tha Minotaur
Tha büll-heidit monster o state
Catched dairkly in tha licht o Paulin’ lettèrs.
Mannysters o tha States
That wud hae tha leal pit oot, an aa
Tha Loard wud own an whut tha hairt
Jist noo, an yit,
Houls dear frae days lang bye.
Dear knows, we’r no fun
Ahint tha waas, an dorrs, an desks
O Bilfawst
Whar jist tha wurd o tha Minotaur
Is writ.


Twa heids,
Yin apiece, at baith ens o tha Hamely Hïlls.
Lukkin baith roads like,
Janus, wi his twa faces -
Fair Heid, tha big yin tae tha noarth
Ben More, tae Ben Madigan,
Lukkin sooth tha tither - Boney’s Neb
Abane tha mooth
O Bilfawst.
Betwixt tha twa, tha yin hairt
Lan o tha hamely
Tongue.