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waiting

At the End - by Andrew Dodds

{ Poem }

When my last song is finished,
/ And my heart has lost its fire,
/ When passion is diminished,
/ And dead is all desire,
/ I pray…

Sala de Esperanza - by Lawrence Hergott, MD

{ Poem }

The sign on the hospital wall
/ identifying the space
/ begins with a Spanish phrase—
/ sala de espera,
/ waiting room.
/
/ A more symbolic phrase
/ may have deeper…

The Soldier’s Wife - by Jean Guthrie-Smith

{ Poem }

My warrior comes from France to-night
/ And I, so long disconsolate,
/ Once more the well-beloved of Fate,
/ With work-scarred hands go quick to…

When Will the War Be By? - by Charles Murray

{ Poem }

“This year, neist year, sometime, never,”
/ A lanely lass, bringing hame the kye,
/ Pu’s at a…

Second Opinion - by Douglas Dunn

{ Poem }

We went to Leeds for a second opinion.
/ After her name was called,
/ I waited among the apparently well
/ And those with bandaged…

A Visit from St. Nicholas - by Clement Clarke Moore

{ Poem }

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
/ Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
/ The stockings were…

Tràighean - by Sorley MacLean / Somhairle MacGillEain

{ Poem }

Nan robh sinn an Talasgar air an tràigh
/ far a bheil am beul mòr bàn
/ a’ fosgladh eadar dà ghiall chruaidh,
/ Rubha nan…

Bed - by Jackie Kay

{ Poem }

She is that guid tae me so she is
/ an Am a burden tae her, I know Am ur.
/ Stuck here in…

This Was the Year - by Pippa Little

{ Poem }

This was the year before the year
/ that collapsed on us, a roof brought down by snow.
/ The year of riding through…

Another Spring - by Christina Rossetti

{ Poem }

If I might see another Spring,
/ I’d not plant summer flowers and wait:
/ I’d have my…

Women of the Happy Island (extract) - by Joseph Macleod

{ Poem }

(The series of 47 soliloquies is about the women left behind on the
/ Isle of Barra during the Second World…

For Us, Life - by Jang Jin-sung

{ Poem }

Every morning
/ when I wake
/ I shake my brother
/ to and fro – his lungs are weak.
/
/ I know that Chul next door
/ went…

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Scottish Poetry Library
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Edinburgh EH8 8DT
Tel: +44 (0)131 557 2876
© Scottish Poetry Library 2021.
The Scottish Poetry Library is a registered charity (No. SCO23311).
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By leaves we live

The Scottish Poetry Library is staffed weekdays from 10am – 2pm and is providing a limited service including postal loans and Click & Collect. For details, click COVID-19 in the menu bar above. Dismiss