AN AUCHINLECK poet has become an online sensation with her latest poem which celebrates traditional Ayrshire tongue.

Tracy Harvey’s performance of her original ‘It’s No Potato, It’s Tattie’ has almost 10,000 views on YouTube.

The poem was inspired by a program Rebel Tongue about Scots language on the BBC by Alistair Heather, in which someone is quoted saying, “Never trust anybody who says potato and no tattie.”

The 51-year-old, who is an official scriver for the Burns Birthplace museum in Mauchline, has been thrilled by the response, with Alistair contacting her on twitter.

She told the Chronicle: “I’ve been writing and performing poetry for years. But this has been amazing. I am normally used to like six likes, but never anything quite like 10,000.

“I’ve told Alistair that he is my muse. It’s about celebrating our langue.”

Tracy’s passion for poetry derives from her upbringing in Auchinleck where she says traditional Ayrshire tongue is very much alive and kicking.

She added: “ I am very proud of where I come from. Folk from up here have some of the best Scottish tongues in oor heeds. I visited a primary school once, and the children knew so much about their language because they have been brought up with it.

“It’s hugely entertaining. We all wear our heart on our sleeve.

Tracy said:“I work as a mental health nurse and whenever we would say goodbye to a member of staff that was moving on or retiring, we’d have a tea. I would always stand up and perform a poem about them. That’s where it all started.”

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