Glengarnock Gleanings (1920) | Colvilles Staff Magazine, Poem.

Original February 1920 issue of Colvilles Magazine featuring the poem “On Strikes” by William Ferguson of Glengarnock Works. Written in Scots, the poem reflects on labour, conflict, and the hope for peace and cooperation between workers and employers. Fully transcribed and preserved below with an image from local artist J.W Sorbie – original scan is above.

While going through the Colvilles magazines, I am always struck by the artistry of some of these men. William Ferguson’s poetry appears often across many editions as well as art sketches by various employees. The magazines have interesting articles about photography and language learning such as Esperanto which we will see later, choirs, opera and the Arts showing a deeper intellect than the usual stereotype of the illiterate Steel Worker.

People Mentioned on This Page

The following individuals are named in this section from a 1920s issue of Colvilles Magazine. This poem was published in the February or March Edition

• William Ferguson (Glengarnock Works)
• J. W. Sorbie (illustrator, Glengarnock)

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On Strikes

By William Ferguson, Glengarnock Works

Some strikes are bad frae end tae end,
And some great strikes were never kenn’d
Tae dae much guid, but garr’d a’ spend
  Their gather’d gear;
That strength and grit did ever send
  Year after year.

Man was designed to work and win
His daily bread, without the sin
O’ strife, that fires his human kin
  Wi’ passionate hate;
Let wisdom reign among us, gin
  It be over late.

Let man and master each beware;
For ev’ry question can wi’ care
And mutual words, baith fair and square,
  Be put just right;
And bitter feelings let’s repair,
  And work wi’ micht.

Wi’ keen regrets we view the past
Mistakes o’ men, and stand aghast;
So we may learn and unlearn fast
  The rights and wrongs;
And blessings yet may overcast
  The countless throngs.

Speed, speed the day when strikes shall cease!
When men a’ ower shall live at peace,
When strife and enmity decrease,
  And men shall say—
Joy and prosperity now increase
  From day to day!

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Illustration

Drawn by: J. W. Sorbie, Glengarnock

Caption:

Jock — “Haw, Wull, is that wan o’ the Directors in the motor?”
Wull — “No, fat-heid! That’s wan o’ the bricklayers!”