A  Bestiary

Rat’s-tail, Cat’s-tail,
Mouse-tail, Fox-tail,
Bristlegrass

Hare’s-tail, Dogstooth,
Rabbitfoot, Cockspur,
Feathergrass

Frog Rush, Toad Rush,
Goose-corn, Canary-grass,
Ticklegrass

Flea Sedge, Nit-grass,
Deergrass, Squirreltail,
Adder’s Tongue

Bird’s-foot, Hart’s-tongue,
Horsetail, Stag’s-horn,
Sheep’s Fescue

Cow Quakes, Crab Grass,
Totter Grass, Beetle-grass,
Twitch!

Cock’s-foot grass
Dactylis glomerata

A lintie o a lass rins uphill
tae the pasture field.
On the hip o the brae
the auld grey horse is lyin doon.

A worn-oot yaud
on his watch knowe,
his ee is far awa wi it,
lookin tae the heathery hills.

He’s waitin on the bairn
tae coorie in by his shouther.
She’ll pu a tait o grass for him,
the cock’s-foot he likes fine.

Thegither in companionrie,
the bairn beginnin
tae look ower the nest,
the grey horse beginnin

tae look aboot him
for a last circumspice,
they forgaither on the brae,
wide-warld waukin.

lintie – a sprightly lass
yaud – an old horse
tait – tuft
coorie – cuddle
shouther – shoulder
thegither – together
companionrie – companionship
circumspice – look aboot ye
forgaither – keep company 
wide-warld waukin – wide-awake

Live, horse, an ye’ll get gress