A Drunk Man Looks At
The Thistle

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

In Preparation.

A Drunk Man Looks At
The Thistle

BY
HUGH M’DIARMID
AUTHOR OF ‘SANGSCHAW,’ ETC.

Vast imbecile mentality of those

Who cannot tell a thistle from a rose,

This is for others.

—Sacheverell Sitwell.

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS LTD.
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
1926

Printed in Great Britain All Rights reserved

TO
F. G. SCOTT.

Can ratt-rime and ragments o’ quenry

And recoll o’ Gillha’ requite

Your faburdoun, figuration, and gemmell,

And prick-sangs’ delight?

Tho’ you’ve cappilowed me in the reapin’

—And yours was a bursten kirn tae!—

Yet you share your advantage wi’ me

In the end o’ the day.

And my flytin’ and sclatrie sall be

Wi’ your fantice and mocage entwined

As the bauch Earth is wi’ the lift

Or fate wi’ mankind!