Doric Poems

Collection of Doric poems from the North East of Scotland and books of verse from Aberdeen

Our favourite collection of Doric poems can be found in A Drappie Doric by Jimmy Simpson of Glass village, near Huntly, which collects many of his verses, all written in the Aberdeen Doric. As you would expect from a rural Aberdeenshire loon they are broad and fun! He has a wicked sense of humour as you can see from this extract from his Doric poem called "Learnin' The Wife Tae Drive".

I'll tell ye o' a couple, nae very far frae here
They've bidden in the howe amon's for mony and mony a year
A douce, quait-livin' pair they were, an' nivver kent tae strive
Until the day that Meg announced she'd like tae learn tae drive.

So Dod got oot the car an' set her ahin' the wheel
An' telt her a'a aboot te gears, the clutch an' brakes as weel
She bocht hersel' a pair o' 'L's an' read the Highway Code
Took oot a Drivin' Leeshins an' made ready for the road.

The Living Doric collects Doric poems from some of the North East poets such as Sheena Blackhall, Flora Garry, George Ritchie, Peter Buchan and Douglas Kynoch.

Many have appeared in the Press and Journal newspaper over the years.

The poets come from rural locations like New Deer and Auchnagatt as well as Peterhead and Fraserburgh – so oor mither tongue is written in a fine broad dialect.

For more reviews please see

Peat Moss Poetry

The Moss o Rora Book by Allan JR Thomson - Poems and Tales of North East Scotland

The Drummer Boy is my latest novel about the ghost of a Gordon Highlander Drummer Boy from the Battle of Waterloo who haunts a modern day army nurse.

Chapters take place in modern day Aberdeen, at the Noose & Monkey bar and restaurant as well as His Majesty’s Theatre and Garthdee. Other scenes take place at Tidworth and during the Napoleonic War.

I’ve put in many Doric words and phrases into the novel, my favourite being “Mmm oxters o an Aberdeen loon, cannae beat it!” As with all my novels and short stories (my author name is CG Buswell) it includes the Doric, scenes from Aberdeen and famous ghosts from our area.

Read the first three chapters for free on most devices.

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