Do Aonghas Dubh Là na h-Aoise - by
Mar chuimhneachan ’s mar chomharradh,
A’ chathair agad thall ud
Bàn ‘s falamh gu Là Luain.
Poems
An online library of poems from the Scottish Poetry Library.
Moss - by
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.