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Sirius

Kathleen Jamie

Kathleen Jamie

Dug-stern,
gairdin the yett
atween ane year and the neist –

weel micht ye blinter
emerant and reid
as ye lowp oor southron lift.

Wi anely this ae
flicht o Yird, this
ae speck o stour

that alane can tak tent o ye,
hou wad ye no
bleeze at us?

Ilka dug maun
hae its dey, and thur’s naewhaur
ither can cry ye

by thon or onie name
No that ye hear us, birlin
throu oor ain

swith-passin deys.
We live and dee – and whiles,
on clear how o winter nichts

we see ye kythe,
leamin abuin the Black Craig,
stern o the bricht stern stare.


Kathleen Jamie

Tags:

Burns Night Burns Night Skies Scots

About this poem

Sirius is from Jamie’s collection, The Keelie Hawk (Picador, 2024).

This poem was selected by Kathleen Jamie for the Scottish Poetry Library’s ‘Burns Night Skies‘ initiative in January 2025.

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Kathleen Jamie sitting in front of large plant

Kathleen Jamieb.1962

Kathleen Jamie is a poet, essayist and travel writer. In August 2021, Jamie was appointed Scotland's Makar (national poet).
More about Kathleen Jamie

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