Poetry

Skilled carpet makers took great pride in their work. The skills required to produce a 10 metre wide carpet with an intricate pattern took years to develop. Some workers wrote songs and poems about their work, often published in company newsletters and magazines.

'Wull Blakey's Fareweel Tae His Lim'. Poem Glenpatrick Journal 1952. Courtesy of Johnstone Historical Society.

Fareweel aukl lim it greives me sair

Tae think I ne' er'll work ye mair,

For trade's sae dull, I see gey plain,

That I maun gang on tramp again.

Fareweel tae motions, heddles, reeds.

Tae a' the cranks, an' shafts ye need,

Each stud an' bolt, each screw and spring,

Each wee bit turrly whurly thing.

Tae tappits, shuttles, beams and pirns,

Tae bevels, wheels an' a' that turns,

Tea rods, an haunles, bow'd an' plain,

That aft hea fashed the tenters's brain.

Nae mair I'll hang about the pass,

Nae mair I'll wait on pirns or gas,

Nae Mair wull "Barclay" sweer us baith',

Or "Dickie" birl me ower ma claith.

Nae mair amang the liquor vats,

I'll help "McKim" tae hunt for rats.

Nae mair wi "Handley" hae a rise,

Or listen tae "Bob Christie's" lies.

Tho' money weary days I've had,

Wi stuffers scarce an worset bad,

Yet let ma pey be big or wee,

I've aye been ready for a spree.

Sae noo a's bye, I'll weave nae mair,

An' tho' we'se aft forfochten sair,

‘Twas whiles ma faut (I wadna doot)

But I maun gang – ma stuffer's oot.

Dramatis personae

Barclay – Weaving master

Dickie – Clothpasser

McKim – Colourmaker

Handley –Printing master

Christie – Designer

Blakely – Weaver, poacher, drinker, tramp.