Original Poem
Weel mounted on his gray mare, Meg–
A better never lifted leg–
Tam skelpit on thro’ dub and mire;
Despisin’ wind and rain and fire.
Whiles holding fast his gude blue bonnet;
Whiles crooning o’er some auld Scots sonnet;
Whiles glowring round wi’ prudent cares,
Lest bogles catch him unawares:
Kirk-Alloway was drawing nigh,
Whare ghaists and houlets nightly cry.
Translated Poem
Well mounted on his grey mare, Meg.
A better never lifted leg,
Tom, raced on through mud and mire,
Despising wind and rain and fire;
Whilst holding fast his good blue bonnet,
While crooning over some old Scots sonnet,
Whilst glowering round with prudent care,
Lest ghosts catch him unaware:
Alloway’s Church was drawing near,
Where ghosts and owls nightly cry.
Puzzle 5
Help Tam find Meg using his description of her!
“She is a gray mear wi a derk gray mane an a tail the verra same-like. Her saddle and bridle disnae luik the same colour. Hir plaidie neath her saddle is blue.”
Hint 1
Which Meg below matches the Scots description of her? Try ruling out the ones that definitely don’t.
Hint 2
“She is a grey horse with a darker grey mane, her tail is the same shade. Her saddle and bridle don’t look the same colour. The blanket beneath her saddle is blue.”