He's Gallus

He's gallus

Walking doon the toon

Wae his tap aff

Sun's oot

Wit's oot

He's geein it this an' that

"Who yee lookin at, ya rocket"

Charming as ever

*

He's gallus

Walking doon the toon

wae his tap aff

Rain's aff

You kin smell the Voddie

Or is Bucky on his breath, body and claes

He's goat a belter of a scar

And a peelywally face

*

He's gallus

pure dead brilliant

Walking doon the toon

Wae his tap aff

Aff his heid

Looking for some scran

Looking tae gee

Someone a doin

*

He's gallus

Walkin doon the toon

Wae his tap aff

Aff work, dinghied it

Got chibbed

Last Saturday

He wis wired tae the moon

Doon the dancin

*

He's gallus

tried tae winch a lassie

at the dancin'

"Haw you, whit yee awl aboot?"

Shouted her pals

Far frae a munter

Hopin fir a pokin

He goat himsel' a doin

*

He wis gallus

pure dead brilliant

Until he wis face doon

oan a stank

Wae a belter of a scar

He dinnae learn the lesson

Noo he's gettin pished again

Nae wonder he's oan his own in the gutter

*

Thanks for reading!

Author's Note: Although I used Rab C. Nesbitt's image for the cover, it's not actually inspired by him. It's inspired by people I saw growing up and whenever I've been to Glasgow again. There are just these ridiculous drunk people who are full of it. Think they are the best. It's what drink does, I guess.

I was also inspired to write it after my ode to Glasgow, which you can read here:

I thought it would be good to write in slang. I always get nervous about this kind of thing because A) the pressure of writing and representing Glasgow B) the language I use when speaking is a mixture of Glaswegian and standard Scottish English, so I never want to sound anything but authentic. As I am aiming on including more slang in my Next Great [American] Novel Challenge, I figured this would be a good way to test the water.

Glossary of Glaswegian/Scottish Slang Words Used in Poem

To help you out, here is a glossary explaining the words that might need explaining:

Gallus: Bold, daring, reckless even

Doon: down

Toon: Town

Wae: with

Tap: Top - t-shirt, jumper

Aff: off

Oot: out

Wit: Wit

Geein: Giving

Yee: you

Rocket: daft, idiot, eejit

Kin: can

Voddie: Vodka

Bucky: Buckfast Tonic Wine - a fortified, caffeinated wine, in a thin green bottle with a yellow and purple label. It is actually made at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, England by the monks there.

Claes: Clothes

Goat: got

Belter: something that is exceptional or outstanding

Peely-wally: sickly and pale in appearance

Pure dead brilliant: Is a frequently used phrase in Glasgow, and other parts of Scotland too, which basically means something or someone is "the best"

Heid: head

Scran: food

Tae: to

Gee: Give

A doin: a beating, a fight

Dinghied: ignored

Chibbed: stabbed or slashed with a sharp weapon, whether it's a makeshift one or a razor or knife.

Wired tae the moon: Glaswegian and Scottish version of "the lights are on, but nobody is at home"

Dancin: nightclub

Winch: kiss, snog

Lassie: girl

Haw: hey

Whit: what

Awl: all

Aboot: about

Frae: from

Munter: unattractive, ugly

Pokin: sexual thing

Stank: drain

Wis: was

Noo: Now

Getting pished: getting drunk

oan: on

You can also check out the rest of my work here.