Provost Pawkie stertit greetin
At the last toun cooncil meetin.
The Heid Accoontant had annoonced
That aw the cooncil cheques jist boonced.
“We’ve nae mair dosh. We’re on oor uppers.
We’ve spent it aw on chicken suppers.”

This news gied Pawkie a muckle fleg –
His coat wis on a shooglie peg.
“Lads, I’ll cut back. I’ll sell the Jag.
But dinna mak me pack ma bag!
I promise, nae mair trips tae Spain.
Jist gonnae let me keep ma chain!”

© Matthew Fitt - first published in ‘Blethertoun Braes’, Itchy Coo, 2004

Matthew was the second holder of the Brownsbank Fellowship and writer-in-residence in Greater Pollock in Glasgow. A poet and novelist, his Scots SF novel But n Ben a-Go-Go was published in 2000 followed by his first poetry collection, Kate o' Shanter's Tale and Other Poems, in 2003. He is currently Schools Officer for the successful scots language imprint, Itchy Coo. Find out more at www.itchy-coo.com