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  • SQA Higher texts
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Curriculum Level: SQA Higher texts

Box Room - by Liz Lochhead

{ Poem }

First the welcoming. Smiles all round. A space
For handshakes.

Brooklyn Cop - by Norman MacCaig

{ Poem }

Built like a gorilla but less timid,
thick-fleshed, steak-coloured, with two
hieroglyphs in his face that mean
trouble,

Hotel Room, 12th Floor - by Norman MacCaig

{ Poem }

This morning I watched from here
a helicopter skirting like a damaged insect
the Empire State Building,

War Photographer - by Carol Ann Duffy

{ Poem }

In his dark room he is finally alone
/ with spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.
/ The only light is red…

Mrs Midas - by Carol Ann Duffy

{ Poem }

It was late September. I’d just poured a glass of wine, begun
/ to unwind, while the vegetables cooked. The kitchen
/ filled with…

Originally - by Carol Ann Duffy

{ Poem }

We came from our own country in a red room
/ which fell through the fields, our mother singing
/ our father’s name to…

Valentine - by Carol Ann Duffy

{ Poem }

I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.

Hallaig - by Somhairle MacGill-Eain
Sorley MacLean

{ Poem }

‘Tha tìm, am fiadh, an coille Hallaig’
/
/ Tha bùird is tàirnean air an uinneig
/ trom faca mi an Àird Iar
/ ’s tha mo…

Latha Foghair - by Somhairle MacGill-Eain
Sorley MacLean

{ Poem }

’S mi air an t-slios ud
latha foghair,
na sligean a’ sianail mum chluasan
agus sianar marbh ri mo ghualainn

‘Thug mise dhut biothbhuantachd’ - by Somhairle MacGill-Eain
Sorley MacLean

{ Poem }

Thug mise dhut biothbhuantachd
/ is dè thug thu dhòmhsa?
/ Cha tug ach saighdean
/ geura do bhòidhchid.
/ Thug thu cruaidh shitheadh
/ is treaghaid na dòrainn,
/ domblas an…

Tràighean - by Somhairle MacGill-Eain
Sorley MacLean

{ Poem }

Nan robh sinn an Talasgar air an tràigh
/ far a bheil am beul mòr bàn
/ a’ fosgladh eadar dà ghiall chruaidh,
/ Rubha nan…

Last Supper - by Liz Lochhead

{ Poem }

She is getting good and ready to renounce
/ his sweet flesh.
/ Not just for lent. (For
/ Ever)
/ But meanwhile she is assembling the ingredients
/ for…

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