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clothes

Beethoven’s Hat - by David Burnett

{ Poem }

Unseen, yet seen by everyoneAt the levée, one gentlemanAlone kept his hat firmly onThroughout, a boor before the throne. May each majority boast one,Stiff-necked, thrawn, proud, contrarian,Impossible, a fool, alone,With his hat firmly, rightly, on.

Myeloma Moths - by Karen Patricia Schofield

{ Poem }

The moths came with a soft flutter one night and burrowed intothe deepest recesses of cloth. Their offspring had their fill, gnawedthe wool and cashmere mix of a coatframed by a hanger, shaped like you. They punched out holes, some like starswhich didn’t shine, coalesced into craters.Silver dust littered the wardrobe carpet. They were driven […]

I Lost my Shoes on Rachel Street - by Rachel McCrum

{ Poem }

I lost my shoes on Rachel St.
/ Head lolled back to rest
/ against a pillow of the Mont
/ kiss the foot of the…

Blight - by Helena Nelson

{ Poem }

Each of us is old
/ and our brave silks begin
/ to fall from us. Draw close
/ in the chapterhouse of skin.
/
/ How shall we…

Well-worn - by Elma Mitchell

{ Poem }

I have worn everything you gave me –
/ The ring, of course, and that absurd string of beads
/ Reaching to…

Hard-Wearing Flowers - by Robert Crawford

{ Poem }

I love you because you love Harris tweed,
/ How it’s several times slumped into bankruptcy,
/ Business plans hauled back from the dead,
/ Only…

Warning - by Jenny Joseph

{ Poem }

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
/ With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
/ And…

Homespun - by Helen Cruickshank

{ Poem }

I met a man in Harris Tweed
/ As I walked down the Strand;
/ I turned and followed like a dog
/ The breath of…

For my Grandmother Knitting - by Liz Lochhead

{ Poem }

There is no need they say
/ but the needles still move
/ their rhythms in the working of your hands
/ as easily
/ as if your…

The Burning - by Chrys Salt

{ Poem }

As spiders haul their thread from stem
/ to stem to weave the light, what do they care
/ if all that skilful labour’s…

Be prepared - by William Letford

{ Poem }

wear three T-shirts and one hooded top
/ layers are important
/ they can always come off
/ remember your oilskins
/ it’s always raining somewhere
/ wear a scarf
/ cold…

Girls’ Songs for Seafarers, III - by Hamish Maclaren

{ Poem }

I will knit him a foam-white jersey,
/ Soft as the breast of the mew;
/ Or, if he prefers, he
/ …

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Scottish Poetry Library
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Edinburgh EH8 8DT
Tel: +44 (0)131 557 2876
© Scottish Poetry Library 2026.
The Scottish Poetry Library is a registered charity (No. SCO23311).
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