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Patt Batt's poems

Pat Batt is a name that many of you will recognise as being synonymous with incisive, humorous poetry centred on Scottish country dancing. Her ditties are based on personal experiences and observation of human life in SCD and then put into rhyme for her and our pleasure. She often is found making a pithy point through fun, this probably being the best way to do it! Go to a dance party, tea party or ceilidh and you will invariable hear one of her poems recited or simply read out. Teachers use them in part to illustrate a point or to give their class a sideways look into our world. Phrases like

... When I was one and twenty….

... I’m a two-sex Scottish dancer …

... I joined a Scottish dancing class …

come to mind when thinking of her poems.

I knew Pat; she was a cheeky mischievous person with a twinkle in her eye which I always see in my mind when I read her works. Reading one of her poems daily is like taking a tonic and this is a compliment I am sure she would have loved to hear. The London Branch have been given special permission by her daughter Jo Chima, to whom we are indebted and thank heartily, to show all 33 of her poems, from her five volumes, in the Archives, on this website. 

​

Stephen Webb  June 2011

The listing of Pat’s poems can be found below. These include an additional Volume 6: Pat’s Extras containing 11 poems not previously published or in a collection. Should any reader have or know of any other poems by Pat Batt not published here – you are invited to send them to the London Branch website to have them added to Volume 6.

Scroll down the library of poems or use the filter to find the volume you want

Remember to set the filter back to All

Pat Batt

0 A Life Remembered

The Ladies Man

1 Party Pieces

The Beginner

1 Party Pieces

45 Degrees

1 Party Pieces

The New Dance

1 Party Pieces

Injuries

1 Party Pieces

Old Friends

1 Party Pieces

Wicked Willie

2 More Party Pieces

The Morning After

2 More Party Pieces

Mix-up

2 More Party Pieces

The Expert

2 More Party Pieces

The Horse

2 More Party Pieces

The Demonstration Team

2 More Party Pieces

Eyes Right!

3 Even More Party Pieces

Pride Goeth -

3 Even More Party Pieces

The Dancing Shoe

3 Even More Party Pieces

The Ball

3 Even More Party Pieces

Maggie Thomas

3 Even More Party Pieces

Turkish Delight

3 Even More Party Pieces

Starters

4 Final Fling

The Essential Mum

4 Final Fling

Dress Sense

4 Final Fling

Age Concern

4 Final Fling

Moonlight Serenade

4 Final Fling

Mothercare

4 Final Fling

Dancing Through

5 Over And Out

Fresh Air and Fun

5 Over And Out

The Kilt

5 Over And Out

SMILE !

5 Over And Out

Nasty Habits

5 Over And Out

January 25th

5 Over And Out

Passing Thoughts

5 Over And Out

Tempus Fugit

5 Over And Out

Celebrating Age

6 Extras

Did You Have An Enjoyable Christmas?

6 Extras

The Laird

6 Extras

The Teacher

6 Extras

Miss Jeanie Carmichael

6 Extras

The New Girl

6 Extras

Guess Whose Coming Dancing

6 Extras

In My Batty Way

6 Extras

The Ceilidh

6 Extras

The Mirror

6 Extras

Just in Case

6 Extras

The Intermediate Class

6 Extras

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