(Decency is written in Scots; scroll down for English translation)
The ootraged carle says
she shoud hae kennt better
than tae be alain wi him
in a ruim uised fur sleepin
He implies the implication o consent
Whan a lassie implies her miscomfit wi his breith
he an his cronies as hauners
lease a teem o blaud
again her artistry
her chairacter
an her wit....
Same...auld....yairn
A weel meanin mannie
expones that e’en grawn men avide walkin some places fur fear o bensell
sae it’s no sae bad tae tell lassies
tae mind thair laits
Ah roll ma een
Thay juist cannae see hou much we hae, we dae
an still thay come fur us
than say wir askin fur it….
Dinnae gae in the daurk
wander alain
Gonnae no wear THAT (which let’s face it, kid be onything)
Ye cannae be tae freenly
but dinnae mak him feel sma
Mak shuir yer no tae confident
kis that kid rile him
Stick wi yer pals
in packs
like gazelle or zebra
but dinnae be tae lood kis than yer loose
an fair game
Mind an no drink
Dinnae trust
Be shuir no tae gie the wrang impression o whaur it kid lead
but juist RELAX fucksake - it’s no aa men
Stey indoors if yer worried
but ken whan tae leave
e’en whan he haes aa the cash
aa control
Ye wid
.... if ye really wantit tae
If it wis that bad, she wid hae reportit him
but hou dare she accuise him
Didn’t she ken she’d ruin his life
oer whit must hae bin
her misunnerstaunin?
Whan is this sel regulation aa meant tae stert?
Whit wis it the six year auld wean
shoud hae kennt tae dae
or no dae
tae stap her grandfaither
violatin her
whan she shoud hae bin asleep wi her teddy bear?
Or wis that her ma’s fault?
Shut yer een lassies
an feel it
Wir anger is mountin
birsin
the air is cracklin wi indignance
The frush is oan it’s wey
Fur ilk an ivry lassie
lost or mutilatit
pheesically or in her mind
we’ll staund
alang wi the men
brave eneuch tae challenge
thair predator ain
an turn the tid
whaur the list that’s acoontable
is the wan thing aye ignored....
eeskyie in aa men
(English translation)
The outraged man says
she should have known better
than to be alone with him
in a room used for sleeping
He implies the implication of consent
When a lassie implies her discomfort with his opinion
he and his cronies as handers
unleash a deluge of abuse
against her artistry
her character
and her wit....
Same...old...story
A well meaning man
explains that even grown men avoid walking some places for fear of violence
so it’s not so bad to tell lassies
to mind their behaviours
I roll my eyes
They just cant see how much we have, we do
and still thay come for us
then say we’re asking for it…….
Don’t go in the dark
wander alone
Gonna not wear THAT (which let’s face it, could be anything)
You can’t be too friendly
but don’t make him feel small
Make sure you’re not too confident
cos that could rile him
Stick with your pals
in packs
like gazelle or zebra
but don’t be too loud cos then you’re loose
and fair game
Mind and not drink
Don’t trust
Be sure not to give the wrong impression of where it could lead
but just RELAX fucksake - it’s not all men
Stay indoors if you’re worried
but know when to leave
even when he has all the cash
all control
You would
.... if you really wanted to
If it was that bad, she would have reported him
but how dare she accuse him
Didn’t she know she’d ruin his life
over what must have been
her misunderstanding?
When is this self regulation all meant to start?
What was it the six year old child
should have known to do
or not do
to stop her grandfather
violating her
when she should have been asleep with her teddy bear?
Or was that her ma’s fault?
Shut your eyes lassies
and feel it
Our anger is mounting
coursing
The air is crackling with indignence
The revolution is on it’s way
For each and every lassie
lost or mutilated
physically or in her mind
we’ll stand
along with the men
brave enough to challenge
their predator own
and turn the tide
Where the item that’s accountable
is the one thing always ignored....
decency in all men
Decency by Keeks Mc tackles victim blaming and how our patriarchal society rallies against women who speak up against the impossible situation they find themselves in. Keeks Mc is an established unique Glaswegian poet and performer who uses colourful and descriptive Scots to provide raw, acerbic social commentary and vivid, eloquent observations around feminist and inclusionary topics. You can find her on Threads and Instagram.