Sunday, December 15, 2013

Yule Boys


In the 19th century, groups of boys in Galloway would reenact a pageant or play for pennies at Christmas. The play took the form of two knights competing for the hand of a lady. 
They lads would argue, fight, then one would throw the other on his back, and take his prize into the moonlight.

The Boys of Yule, Thornhill December 2013

In a frosty road, the three of them,
cans ablaze like corselets:
the blood red heraldry of Tennents 
stark in pub light. It's an old play:
'a pantomime', she sighs,
and walks off before the words
or blows. 'I'm bored',she says,
'and moving on'.

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