Skip to content

Scottish Poetry Library

Register/Sign in
Shopping Bag Shopping Bag
Bringing people and poems together
  • Home
  • Poetry
    • Poems
    • Poets
    • Our National Poet
    • Best Scottish Poems
    • Podcasts
    • Posters
    • Publishers
  • Library
    • Become a borrower
    • Catalogue
    • Collections
    • Ask a librarian
  • Learning
    • National Poetry Day
    • SQA set texts
    • Learning resources
    • New to poetry?
    • Advice for poets
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Exhibitions
    • Venue hire
    • List an event
    • Fringe application
  • Shop
    • Shop help
  • About us
    • Our story
    • Our people
    • Our projects
    • Support us
    • Jobs
    • FAQs
  • Visit
    • Find us
    • Our building
  • Blog
Shopping BagShopping Bag
Ask a librarian
  • Home
  • >
  • Poetry
  • >
  • James Robertson
  • >
  • Doctor Wha
Donate Donate icon Ask a Librarian Ask a Librarian icon

Doctor Wha

James Robertson

Wha’s Doctor Wha? Wha better kens nor he
that jouks the yetts and rides the birlin wheels
o time and space, shape-shiftin as he reels
through endless versions o reality?
Bit dis he ken himsel? Weel, mibbe sae,
yet wha’s tae ken gin aw that’s kent by Wha
maks mair or less or better sense ava
nor whit we ithers ken, or think we dae?
The universe is fou o parallels:
wha’s like us? Hunners? Thoosans? We oorsels
micht be mere glisks o life-forms yet tae be.
Whit’s real? Whaur’s here? When’s noo? Wha’s quick or deid?
Wha’s jist a thoctie in anither’s heid?
Wha’s Doctor Wha? Wha better kens nor s/he?


James Robertson

Reproduced by permission of the author.

Tags:

change Doctor Who National Poetry Day 2018 science fiction Scots

About this poem

This poem was selected for National Poetry Day 2018.

Share this
Facebook
Twitter
Email

Learn more

Poster

Doctor Wha

This poem is one of the poems selected for National Poetry Day 2018, on the theme of change. ‘Wha’s Doctor Wha? James Robertson wonders what’s really real in this universe ‘fou o parallels’.
Download the poster

James Robertsonb.1958

A poet and award-winning novelist, James Robertson is also a publisher of poetry and of children’s books in Scots which provide a lively introduction to Scots-language literary heritage.
More about James Robertson

Events

Discover poetry events at the Scottish Poetry Library and beyond.
Find forthcoming Events
  • Newsletter signup
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Scottish Poetry Library
5 Crichton's Close, Canongate
Edinburgh EH8 8DT
Tel: +44 (0)131 557 2876
© Scottish Poetry Library 2019.
The Scottish Poetry Library is a registered charity (No. SCO23311).
City of Edinburgh logo Green Arts Initiative logo Creative Scotland logo
By leaves we live