THE OULD BOX CAIRT
H M Taylor

I sought again my Caithness home - it had to be,
Though worldly cares my thoughts may claim -I think of thee,
Towards the hoose of old grey stone, my footsteps sped,
Inside its walls that warmth again - And there�s the shed.

Yes, there�s the shed and lying there, it wrung my hairt
A friend o� mine beyond repair - the ould box cairt.
Why is it time should be so hard - sometimes to kill,
Decay and rust's a poor reward, for human skill.

When young, that cairt had bonny lines - and polished sheen,
Its timbers, oak and sturdy pines -and painted green.
The axle made of trusty steel, wheels ringed with care,
And hand-made felloes in each wheel � an art so rare.

My ould loved cairt with worn-out frame � thy day is done,
Your nameplate proudly shows my name � and number one.
Of course I never had two cairts � that�s make-believe,
You held first place in all our hearts � Pride will deceive.

Your early days make history now � you jogged along,
Your leisured ways would then allow time for a song.
One day with peats, one day with hay � you took the load,
Through marsh and bog you found your way � to firmer road.

Now all is haste � geared wheels are here � but oft they fail,
Through paths you took they cannot steer � a modern tale,
Thou didst thy work, perhaps slow but sure � no fuss, no din,
In calm, in storm thou didst endure, through thick and thin.

Methinks there�s something to be said for friends like you,
Solid and steady and home-made, these friends are few.
I�ll think of thee and play my part, through stress and strife,
Ould friends like you, my ould box cairt, are friends for life.