Annand, James King

(1908-1993)

   When Annand graduated from Edinburgh University, he became a schoolteacher and poet, translating work from German and medieval Latin into Scots. He was a supporter of the Scots Language Society and a life-long champion of the Scots language. Among his several volumes of poetry are a collection of three books of verse for children called Bairn Rhymes, which are illustrated with line drawings by Dennis Carabine. Mercat Press republished Bairn Rhymes: Scots Verse for Children in 1998 (ISBN 187364485X). These poems are said to be among the best writing for children in any language. "Yule" captures the excitement of trying to find a stocking to hang up on Christmas Eve. Some of his other poems: "Arctic Convoy," "Heron," "I Winna Let On," "Mavis," "What Finer Hills?"

   Sources: The Flag in the Wind Features - Scots Language: YULE, by John K. Annand (www.scotsindependent.org/features/scots/yule.htm). Scots Language Resource Centre (http://scotsyett.com/scotsoun.htm). Significant and Famous Scots (http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/annand_james.htm). The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Columbia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org).