Box Room - by
First the welcoming. Smiles all round. A space
For handshakes.
Curriculum Level: SQA Higher texts
Brooklyn Cop - by
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
This morning I watched from here
a helicopter skirting like a damaged insect
the Empire State Building,
War Photographer - by
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
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
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
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
‘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
’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
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
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
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…