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. 379
Parkhill Wood
Bluebells crowd the woodland scene
Ragged Robins murmur sunlit pink
beyond the wood shades of green
demand we stop to smile to think
here Ragged Robins sunlit pink
make shadow spaces come alive
demand we stop to smile to think
how dark and light together thrive
shadow spaces come alive
branches whisper above the blue
dark and light together thrive
the chinkling burn meanders through
branches whisper above the blue
the eye caressed by shades of green
the chinkling burn meanders through
Bluebells crowd the woodland scene
George W Colkitto
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. 378
Maggie McIver’s Dream
We are pure dead brilliant,
East End fandabidosi style
with neon teeth stretching above
the Gallowgate.
You see us before you’ve even arrived
with our star struck mary doll smile.
And once you’ve ventured inside,
it’s full steam ahead to a time gone by.
Our black and red linoleum stair
shout slogans, but the sinners are unaware
as the 1960’s flamingo pink loos have seen
their fair share of stylish shoes and trendy hairdos.
Once inside the womb venue, where
we’ve nurtured lust and romance, given birth
to love, stars and musical chance.
Vaulted diamond ceiling, sparkling world,
sprung dance floor stickier than the air
thick with the stench of crisps, Irn Bru and cheap beer.
Iconic, the original Glasgow sin,
where every real star wants to be in.
No old gallus grand dame, we are Queen.
Remember everyone knows our name,
written in neon above the door
Barrowland,
we have been so much more
than a just ballroom since 1934.
We are Maggie McIver’s Dream.
Catherine Conoboy-Reid
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. 377
Port Seton Snake
The children brought pebbles first,
painted on a rainy day
when lockdown seemed unreal.
Over time it became routine.
Family members all brought stones -
Hello! For Grandma Bet, save our NHS!
Poppies and words of hope, anger.
Distress.
And the line grew, until a pretty snake
wound along the street and the first
ones placed, months before, began
to flake and fade.
Hell For G et,. save u S
Poppies washed away.
What scares me? They are merely
stones along a road.
Children's daubed rainbows
a winding shrine to the dead.
Sadie Maskery
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. 376
Resurfacing
Only a moment underground,
feet on rubble, phone torch illuminating
chamber—broken glass, Sex Pistols graffito,
swastika—is long enough
before I grasp rusty ladder,
scrabble up to a welcome
from May sunshine,
fat lambs and orange gorse.
Craig Aitchison
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. 375
Dalwhinnie - Dail Chuinnidh
Leaving Dalwhinnie station,
I notice the view.
It has run out of trees.
The earth has run out of grass.
The soil (like me) has run out of a reason to stay.
Outside, the clouds become too heavy
to contain themselves.
I trace a silver snail trail of raindrops
as it clings to the greasy window.
Inside, a trolley sells steaming comfort
to sustain the busy-being-busy.
Their mission is to keep in touch with the real world
(however far away they find themselves).
My ticket holds no clues.
Who would want to pause here
and hope if they changed direction
(in these mountains)
they would be heading to greener pastures?
Sarah Dolan
Note: Dalwhinnie was a meeting place of ancient cattle drovers’ routes through the mountains.
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. 374
Shortlees
We arrived in Shortlees in two thousand and eight
It was easy to get there
Not long to wait.
We lived next to this old bloke,
He was quite a character.
Caprington Avenue is very straight.
The Ayr Road at one end
Central Avenue at the other.
If you don’t slow down for the roundabouts
You’ll land yourself in bother.
The local ‘Community Centre’
is attached to the primary school.
As far as the community’s concerned,
it’s breaking all the rules!
It’s a big enough place when school is out
Of that there is no doubt
With rooms galore, and chairs, and stairs
And great big windows to look out
To watch anyone daft enough to go outside
On the field, in the rain
And kick a ball about...
Elaine Shade
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.