By Tcswim

When we were wee we were forced to ask for pocket-money

"There! That is all you will get Jock-Johnie

Don’t ask for more there isn’t any!"

We hated to beg:-the awfie shame

"And forced to say, ‘thank-you’ to big Daddy."

Oh, how we want to be on oor ain; never to hae tae beg again

Too often oor hand, palm upwards formed a begging bowl

-an empty glass

making us feel shame: a kind of anger in the soul

and in our class

Now turn the hand over

Pull the fingers together

Beg no longer sister or brother

Look! The fist is stronger