THE POETRY MANNIE: THE DORIC POETRY OF BOB SMITH

Bob Smith was brought up on a farm at Skene near Westhill in Aberdeenshire and spent much of his adult life in amongst the newspaper industry. In his later years he took to poetry and adopted the moniker 'The Poetry Mannie'.

He wrote mainly in the Doric and his wirds express a deep love of the places, the people and the landscape he held dear.

This new collection of his work includes the powerful poem 'Spikkin Doric'.

First published in Aberdeen Voice some years ago, the piece reflects on the virtual banning of the native tongue of the North East during the difficult days when locals were strongly encouraged to speak the Queen's English and nothing but the Queen's English. Bob would have none of it:

"Lits aa fecht fer the Doric

Hae it taacht in aa the skweels

Instead o aa the lah-de-dahs

Thinkin the Doric is fer feels"