Tam o'Shanter

Traditionally today many Scots throughout the world commemorate the birth of ‘Scotland’s National Poet’ and one of his most famous poems is Tam o’ Shanter. When Tam was returning home very late on his horse Meg, or Maggie, after a heavy drinking session he passed a group of witches who then chased him and becoming terrified he thought he would be safe once he crossed the river as it was believed that witches and evil spirits could not cross running water.  As his horse got to the middle of the bridge one of them called Nannie grabbed Meg’s tail and pulled some hair out but fortunately Tam managed to reach the safety of the side although he still had to face the anger of Kate, his wife. Tam is supposedly based on a local farmer called Douglas Graham.
This is the last part of the long poem.
Ah, Tam! ah, Tam! thou'll get thy fairin'!
In hell they'll roast thee like a herrin'!
In vain thy Kate awaits thy commin'!
Kate soon will be a woefu' woman!
Now, do thy speedy utmost, Meg,
And win the key-stane o' the brig;
There at them thou thy tail may toss,
A running stream they dare na cross.
But ere the key-stane she could make,
The fient a tail she had to shake!
For Nannie, far before the rest,
Hard upon noble Maggie prest,
And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle;
But little wist she Maggie's mettle -
Ae spring brought off her master hale,
But left behind her ain gray tail;
The carlin claught her by the rump,
And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.
No, wha this tale o' truth shall read,
Ilk man and mother's son take heed;
Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd,
Or cutty-sarks run in your mind,
Think! ye may buy joys o'er dear -
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mare

This is one of the several sculptures recently made from books presented anonymously to various Scottish locations and shows the witch chasing Tam across Alloway Bridge.