Abbotsford Bar, Rose Street - by
It’s a museum piece, this place, / the Jacobean ceiling dripped in rich / reds and gold, a dark mahogany bar / solid as a Spanish ship
waiting
At the End - by
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
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
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
“This year, neist year, sometime, never,”
/ A lanely lass, bringing hame the kye,
/ Pu’s at a…
Second Opinion - by
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
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
/ Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
/ The stockings were…
Tràighean - by
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
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
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
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
(The series of 47 soliloquies is about the women left behind on the
/ Isle of Barra during the Second World…