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Discover
Poetry
in the world's leading resource for Scottish poetry

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Search from over 3,000 selected poems on this site or explore our full collection in our online catalogue

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Find out about our latest resources, projects and events

Burns Night - 25 January

You can delve into the work and life of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national bard, on our poet’s page. Here you will find well-kent poems and songs, including 'Address to A Haggis'.
Discover more poetry and films

Anonymous wis a wumman

Ashley Douglas researched the absences and erasure of women’s voices from the early times of published poetry in Scotland. Ashley also looked at the misattribution and denial of same-sex women’s writing.
Read Ashley's blog

Burns Night: The Trysting Thorns

Creative responses by women to the life and work of Robert Burns
Watch and read the poems

"Our World, Our Future"

For Jim Carruth, as Glasgow Poet Laureate, one of the big elements of his role has been the encouragement of poetry in primary schools.
Find out more

New: Roddy Lumsden Memorial Mentorship

Applications are open for a new mentorship scheme-with poet Niall Campbell-to develop and showcase new voices.
Apply now

Developing sensory poetry activity

We partnered with disability support charity Capability Scotland to commission a storyteller and a poet to produce sensory poetry workshops
Listen to the artists involved

Outstanding Contribution to Poetry

Sally Evans is the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Poetry in Scotland award.
Find out more about Sally

Sruth

Tachartasan Làn-Ghàidhlig aig Leabharlann Bàrdachd na h-Alba
Leughaibh Tuilleadh

Makar helps launch the Year of Stories

Kathleen Jamie produced a film to support the launch of Scotland's Year of Stories
Discover more & watch the film

Scottish Poems on the Underground

Our friends at Poems on the Underground are featuring Scottish poets old and new in January.
Discover more

New events on sale now

John Hegley, Gaelic poetry and more feature in our 2022 line-up. Tickets on sale now. The SPL is well ventilated and Covid protocols will be in place for all our events.
Find out more

Black poets respond to climate change

We have commissioned new poetry from Black women poets in partnership with Africa in Motion Film Festival and Obsidian Foundation.
Watch the film-poems

The People of Scotland's Nature Poem

Our national Makar has curated three new collective nature poems, 'The Life-breath Songs'
Discover more

Scotland's Next Generation Young Makars

We have launched a new talent development scheme for poetry writers aged 16 to 25 years.
Discover more & apply online

What the Clyde said, after COP26

Kathleen Jamie, Scotland's Makar, responds with a new poem to the COP26 Glasgow Climate Change Conference
Read and listen to the poem

Scottish Poets at COP26

Weathering the Storm: Scottish Poets Discuss Climate Change, Resilience and Adaptation
Watch the event recording

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Browse our range of poetry books, cards and gifts in our online shop.
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Share our poem of the moment...

Think of me as a long level
liquid ear gliding slowly by.
I heard the world’s words,
the pleas of peoples born
where my ships once sailed,
Continue reading What the Clyde said, after COP26
More from Kathleen Jamie
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Scottish Poetry Library
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Edinburgh EH8 8DT
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The Scottish Poetry Library is a registered charity (No. SCO23311).
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