Edinburgh "auld reekie"

a poem about one of my greatest loves

"Auld Reekie"

Edinburgh - what a beautiful city the tourists all say

and even when it's cloudy, rainy or gray

Edinburgh's still buzzing with crowds in rain coats

with the craziness of the festival, street performers and floats

Actors handing out flyers for plays

July and August crazy days

The streets belong to the tourists no doubt

and the folks who belong here leave it out

but sometimes maybe go along for a show up here

or dander up the royal mile to soak up the atmosphere

I take my kids, we walk through the park, the up the mile

the madness of it all making us smile

exhausted we reach the castle and see

some dude dressed like braveheart to the visitors glee

and cafes sell overpriced coffees and tea

It is a wonderful city I'm proud to say

and plenty to do on any given day

a bus ride away your at Portobello beach

where the town is only just out of reach

a stroll along the prom, coffee and a people watch

kids playing on the sand or in the street hop scotch

Further down the coast you got gullane's gorgeous doons

had many a fantastic day down there and seen many moons

Back in the city we have the wonderful Queen's Park

my playground when growing up come daylight or in dark

We had a tarzan up there spent hours swinging to and fro

me and the neighbourhood kids and my sister Jo

What a fantastic place to walk it's my favourite place to be

I go there a few times a week to see who I can see

Always meet new people visitors to this place

they want to go up Arthurs Seat and set of fastest pace

take it easy I say it's quite a climb

Edinburgh's got it all from the crazy to the sublime

Auld reekie so named as the coal used in fires spewed out thick smoke

We thought it was cos it was smelly we would joke

maybe it was, the smell coming from the smokey roofs

I can imagine it in the auld town and down the tolboofs

Where Burke and Hare did dwell back then

and take unwitting strangers into there den

supply them with booze until they conked out

and then they would hit them o'er the heid

and when they made sure they were quite deid

take them to the college and sell their dead bodies

and go home and celebrate with some hot toddies

(apparently coffin dolls where found buried in the park that were supposed to be Burke and hares victims - no-one knew who buried them but it is thought maybe it was a cobbler who lived below the pair - they are currently on display at the Edinburgh museum if you should ever visit)

XXXXX

Author's Note

thoughts on auld reekie X

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

KTBradley,
"Edinburgh "auld reekie"
Auld Reekie sounds like a voodoo type thing or a memorium to a family member? Either way it sounds really interesting! Something to look up.
Iv'e not been to Edinburgh but it sounds like a blast. You took me there with you via great description. So nice, so fun, colorful, memorable.
Writing like this just whets the appetite for a trip there.
Sweet poem,
Blessings,
Kathy

[KT-B]

Thank you Kathy, well if you ever thinking of making the trip let me know and we could meet up and I'll show you around - that would be awesome :) - always good to hear from you X

[Kathy Van Kurin]

KTBradley,
How nice of you. Wow, I would love that.if I can get out that way. Well I was able to enjoy the many charms of the city you love through your eyes and experience. All I can say is thank you.

[Bluebird]

You've hit the nail on the head here given a great description of the city both present and sordid past

[alanwgraham]

This made me smile - you have painted a very affectionate and humerous picture of the city. I am a regular visitor to 'Auld Reekie' compliments of my bus pass and like to explore. We are so lucky to have such a fantastic city in Scotland.
Well done!
Alan
I have a similar poem called 'A muse on Prices street' that you might like to read' (on page 3) Thanks!

[KT-B]

Thank you for your review, yes we are so lucky just back from a wee walk along crammond, another wee beauty spot we have - I so enjoyed your poem "A muse on Princes street" made me chuckle - best wishes KT