Poetry Map
We all know poems about Scotland but can the shape and nature of Scotland be drawn entirely in poetry? StAnza has set itself the challenge to see if this is the case. Find out more about the project and how to submit your poem by clicking here, or browse the poems using the map. Latest poems are listed below.
Poetry Map of Scotland: poem no. 418
Elgin
I fell in love with the magic of Elgin.
No, not the famous marbles, nor the Earl who lifted them from the Parthenon in Greece.
A place named Elgin.
A town in Moray, Scotland that modern guidebooks frequently ignore.
An ancient site with nearly a thousand years of recorded history.
Home to a cathedral city founded in medieval times.
Without warning, Elgin stole my heart, and I have become its suitor.
There is much to discover about this magical place.
But first, let me tell you this story...
Deb Hosey White
View our full map of Scotland in Poems as it grows »
For instructions on how to submit your own poems, click here
All poems from our Poetry Map of Scotland are subject to copyright and should not be reproduced otherwise without the poet's permission.
Poetry Map of Scotland: poem no. 417
A Journey to Caithness
Ranald Mackechnie, "A Journey to Caithness"
Ranald MacKechnie
View our full map of Scotland in Poems as it grows »
For instructions on how to submit your own poems, click here
All poems from our Poetry Map of Scotland are subject to copyright and should not be reproduced otherwise without the poet's permission.
Poetry Map of Scotland: poem no. 416
Bey’s Day
Kittiwakes waken the morning
high cry, plaintive song and
my sleep-smeared eyes
blink in the dawn
I give thanks for daybreak
Sea-slap waves on sea-stack columns
I curve into my stone sanctuary
carved, cached in the red cliffs
home is bare, simple, solitary
I give thanks for home
Child comes with loaf, fish, smile
I smile too, and together
we prepare the eating place
one small table, two small bowls, three small gifts
and I give thanks for each mouthful
Noon brings the rain
and the chill and howl of wind
I fold myself into my cloak
bow my sodden head
and give thanks for this wild, good earth
Woman comes aching, weeping
I’ve known her sufferings before
we hold hands and gather comfort
the balm of herbs and hope
I give thanks for the kindness of creation
Evening comes quiet, firelight and prayer
behind the cliffs voices raise
village anger drips into my peace
and shatters the dusky light
I give thanks for blessed solitude
Bright moon and scattered stars
make brilliant the waves in the night
I cannot sleep, though it is late
and I am cold, weary too
Yet I give thanks for sleepless delight.
Vicky Allen
Note: St. Bey is the patron saint of Dunbar.
View our full map of Scotland in Poems as it grows »
For instructions on how to submit your own poems, click here
All poems from our Poetry Map of Scotland are subject to copyright and should not be reproduced otherwise without the poet's permission.
Poetry Map of Scotland: poem no. 415
"Slipway Frequencies," by Julie Laing
Julie Laing, "Slipway Frequencies" (Poetry Map of Scotland poem no. 415)
Note: The poem responds to the present and past at Queens’ Quay, formerly John Brown’s shipyard. From here the QE2 and Queen Mary were launched. Its format is inspired by sound theorist R Murray Schafer’s work on soundscapes.
View our full map of Scotland in Poems as it grows »
For instructions on how to submit your own poems, click here
All poems from our Poetry Map of Scotland are subject to copyright and should not be reproduced otherwise without the poet's permission.
Poetry Map of Scotland: poem no. 414
Loch Voil Dance
slow trusting movements
sun on my face
my hand on yours
guiding me through air
through water
eyes closed
river flowing
hands touching
following bodies
up and down
ebbing and flowing
feet on Earth
spring green grass
grounded
total trust
my hand on yours
deep sense of peace
your hand on mine
leading
taking care
slow body sways
soft sweeping curves
lightness of steps
lightness of touch
contact so subtle
heartbeat so fast
direction unknown
feeling unsafe
afraid to go far
afraid of the speed
as if in a storm
I am calm
sun on your face
hands still for a moment
Loretta Mulholland
View our full map of Scotland in Poems as it grows »
For instructions on how to submit your own poems, click here
All poems from our Poetry Map of Scotland are subject to copyright and should not be reproduced otherwise without the poet's permission.
Poetry Map of Scotland: poem no. 413
Lumphinnans!
Atween the Tollie Hill an the auld coal bing –
Lumphinnans!
Atween the Swans’ Pond an the Foulford Burn –
Lumphinnans!
Atween the railway line an the main road –
Lumphinnans!
Atween Cowdenbeath an Logelly –
Lumphinnans!
Atween black clouds abune, black coal ablow –
Lumphinnans!
Atween the prefabs whaur I grew up
an the ‘care village’ that they’ve built there nou –
Lumphinnans!
Atween Heiven and Hell –
Lumphinnans!
Atween youthheid and eild –
Lumphinnans!
Atween whaur I cam fae and whaur I’m gannin -
Lumphinnans!
Atween memory and the end o memory –
Lumphinnans!
Atween life an daith –
Lumphinnans!
Robert M Duncan
View our full map of Scotland in Poems as it grows »
For instructions on how to submit your own poems, click here
All poems from our Poetry Map of Scotland are subject to copyright and should not be reproduced otherwise without the poet's permission.