The false knight upon the road
A poem about a quick-thinking boy. The peat he carried was the fuel Scottish children used to take with them every day for the schoolroom fire. 'Atweel' means 'definitely, certainly'.
'O where are you going?'
Quoth the false knight upon the road.
'I'm going to the school,'
Quoth the wee boy, and still he stood.
'What is that upon your back?'
Quoth the false knight upon the road.
'Atweel it is my books,'
Quoth the wee boy, and still he stood.
'What's that ye've got in your arm?'
Quoth the false knight upon the road.
'Atweel it is my peat,'
Quoth the wee boy, and still he stood.
'Wha's aucht thae sheep?'...................................................Who
owns?
Quoth the false knight upon the road.
'They are mine and my mither's,'
Quoth the wee boy, and still he stood.
'How many o' them are mine?'
Quoth the false knight upon the road.
'A' they that hae blue tails,'
Quoth the wee boy, and still he stood.
'I wish ye were on yon tree!'
Quoth the false knight upon the road.
'And a good ladder under me,'
Quoth the wee boy, and still he stood.
'And the ladder for to break,'
Quoth the false knight upon the road.
'And you for to fall down,'
Quoth the wee boy, and still he stood.
'I wish ye were in yon sea,'
Quoth the false knight upon the road.
'And a good bottom under me,' ..........................................a
good ship
Quoth the wee boy, and still he stood.
'And the bottom for to break,'
Quoth the false knight upon the road.
'And ye to be drowned,'
Quoth the wee boy, and still he stood.