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Poems

An online library of poems from the Scottish Poetry Library.

Do Aonghas Dubh Là na h-Aoise - by Rody Gorman

{ Poem }

Mar chuimhneachan ’s mar chomharradh,
A’ chathair agad thall ud
Bàn ‘s falamh gu Là Luain.

Moss - by Julian Colton

{ Poem }

I like moss. Patron saint of floral lost causesyou have to admire its persistencethe certain, resilient silencesuch blithe, unprepossessing paradox –utterly resolute, while so soft, so velvet. Survives, thrives in dim, damp places:up sides of crumbling housesdown slanted, slated, tiled roofs;the crack in the exposed wallshadowed lee beyond the garden gate.Invades repointed chimney breastcolonises the […]

Weathervane (Market Place) - by Julian Colton

{ Poem }

Mine is a copper weathervane’s hen’s eye view:Vertigo. Looking down on Sir Walter’s pigeon stained head Thick wavy hair, so lush, did he wear a wig?Above greywedding cake tiers, right hand holds walking stick In case you don’t know who he isLeft hand grips documents, manuscripts Erected by Ritchie for the Gentlemen of the County, […]

Humanity - by Julian Colton

{ Poem }

You can tire of island lifeSalt        Sea               Sky                       Open space. A crowded streetSprayed name on red brick wallIs a visual treatAnd people                       People                                   People.

Our Waking Breath: A poem-letter from Scotland to Ukraine - by The People of Scotland, curated by Makar Kathleen Jamie

{ Poem }

Spring is here. Dear people of Ukraine,
your courage humbles us. Haud fast. Haud fast.

– And send them homewards, tae think again.

Coimhead iad fhathast a’ tighinn - by Mòrag NicGumaraid
Morag Montgomery

{ Poem }

Coimhead iadfhathast a’ tighinnceum air cheumle eagal nan cridh’‘s iad nan leth-chdadlach fhathast ag èisdeachdmar gum bu chòir don ghaoith tuiteamagus faclan a ràdh ann an cagar. Cha leig an t-eagal leotha tilleadhiadsan a tha a’ sabaid airson beathaiadsan a tha cosg èibhleag an teineaig an cridh’Rugadh iad don ghrèin‘s sheòl iad greiseag ga h-ionnsaighfear […]

Muilemhàgag - by Mòrag NicGumaraid
Morag Montgomery

{ Poem }

Tha muilemhàgag na cadal air an t-sèiseis srann mòr aice.Muilemhàgag ‘s a craiceann a’sgagadh le teas na mòine.Creacan crocodile.Buidhe-liath. I nad cadalagus buille a cridh a’ plapadhmionaid air mhionaid.‘S ionganach gu bheil a sùilean fosgailte.Leth-fhosgailt’.Tè dhiubh uaine ‘s an tèile cho soilleirri èibhleag dhearg.Cha dearg nach aithnicheardè tha na fhaileas – an èibhleag no ‘n […]

Dùisgidh mi aon mhadainn… - by Mòrag NicGumaraid
Morag Montgomery

{ Poem }

Dùisgidh mi aon mhadainn                is seallaidh mi air a’ ghaoith                is chì mi òran is ceòl.Ged nach fhairich mi càil’s nach cluinn mi fonncoimheadaidh mi air mo chùlaibh                ’s chì mi bàrdachd.

Tha an Cuan Eadarainn - by Mòrag NicGumaraid
Morag Montgomery

{ Poem }

Is mise taigh-solais                air chreagiomallach chruaidh. Agus is tusa taigh-solais                air chreagiomallach chruaidh.Tha an cuan eadarainn,air an aon làimh                gad chumail bhuamis air an dara làimh                gar cumail buan ri chèile. Tha an cuan eadarainn’s gun eadarainn ach cuan.

Sonnet - by Veronica Forrest-Thomson

{ Poem }

My love, if I write a song for youTo that extent you are goneFor, as everyone says, and I know it’s true:We are all always alone. Never so separate trying to be twoAnd the busy old fool is right.To try and finger myself from youDistinguishes day from night. If I say “I love you” we […]

Ducks & Rabbits - by Veronica Forrest-Thomson

{ Poem }

in the stream;1look, the duck-rabbits swim between.The Mill Raceat Granta Placetosses them from form to form,dissolving bodies in the spume. Given A and see2find be3(look at you, don’t look at me)4Given B, see A and C.that’s what metaphor5is for. Date and placein the expression of a face6provide the framefor an instinct to rename,7to try to […]

Loch Carran - by Catrìona NicGumaraid
Catriona Montgomery

{ Poem }

Ann an Loch Carran,Mar chuimhneachan Ort-sa,Chomanaich seachdnarÀireamh draoidheachd nan Gàidheal Nuair a sheas iad bhon bhòrdFhuairte gun robh an t-anartDrùite le deòir.

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