The Kerlaw Burn ~ By Bob Auld
Wandering o'er Knockrivock mounds
With rustling leaves the only sound
There in a field of new turned stibble
The Autumn rains began to dribble
O'er the field and furrows edge
Winding and twisting to the hedge
followed every twist and turn
And saw the birth of a drumlie burn
There gathering from all around
Rains had filtered o'er the ground
Storing itself in a muddy hollow
Waiting for other rains to follow
Then struggling o'er began to flow
Weakly first and very slow
I rubbed my eyes, to take a look
And saw emerge a bubbling brook
Strengthening slowly on its way
Carving a course 'midst stones and clay
Winding round the hedges roots
Enchanting natures wondrous looks
Then at the Glen of Corsinkell
With a fellow there befell
Meeting as it made a turn
And there became a drumlie burn
Starting slowly down the glen
With stately pauses now and then
From left to right it felt its way
With autumn tints in deep array
I thought I heard a curlew call
As the waters reached the fall
Tumbling o'er in frothy foam
Beautiful tresses from a lofty dome
But as in life when you go fast
You slowly settle down at last
Twisting turns and thorny brambles
Settle soon your madcap scrambles
Like you the burn resumes its pomp
Settling placidly after its romp
Mid sylvan scenes and natures lore
Flowing gently just as before
Flowing on without a pause
And scarce it seems with any cause
It slowly crossed the old cart road
Where lovers oft enraptured trod
I looked around and breathed a sigh
And heard a blackie's startled cry
For there 'neath the autumn sun
I saw it meet the Diddup burn
Along the Diddups romantic shade
Many a trysting troth was made
Whispered words of love were spoken
With pledges too, the lovers token
Starting from old Ivy Hairs
Farming there this hundred years
Flowing sweetly, grassy verged
Until the burns met and merged
Grown now in, breadth and length
Travelling on from strength to strength
Branches now it kept afloat
Then gathered in the lochs auld moat
Hurried on past Feely hill
Gathering there each mossy rill
Taking all in a healthy swig
Beneath the ha'penny farthin brig
Among Kerelaws historic halls
Winding gently round the walls
Where many a bloody battle keen
Was fought around this lovely scene
The cunning trout was oftimes played
And many a lover woo'ed a maid
But we must ever onward go
Restless waters ne'er cease to flow
1 watched a mare console her foal
As we slipped past the dooking hole
To Lady Jane's romantic isle
The dyke to us was just a stile
And up above, the Ornoc brae
Where we were wont to Tun and play
While o'er the burn the wishing well
Many a childhood dream could tell
But here a dam someone had made
To turn some water down a lade
The water wheel was seldom still
Driving that ancient grinding mill
The dam the water only slowed
It soon filled up and overflowed
Deep down in the Holm green glade
Where many a daring leap was made
When you thought you had enough
In came the burn frae the Brekelhaugh
As boys we oftimes stood and stared
As it passed the auld Kirk yaird
Playing too with childish prank
Round about the auld deep shank
Slaking many a childish drouth
O'er the burn in the auld mine mouth
'Twas here we caught many an eel
As it slipped past the auld Mill wheel
Onward dancing in a merry jig
Passing 'neath the auld stane brig
Splitting the street cleanly apart
Turning again at the Boglemart
Proudly kicking up its heels
As around the bend it wheels
Behind the Cowrodden it was led
Solemnly slowing passing the dead
Losing naught of its impish allure
It passed along beside the moor
Then it seemed with one last burst
Under the railway line it thrust
Through the brig called Jubilee
A last farewell, then lost to sea.
If you with Rabbie could agree
To walk the banks of burns like me
Learning from the great big book
That nature leaves for you to look
We too are like wee restless burns
Ambling on with twists and turns
Never very far from right
If we are keeping in God's sight.
