Scots poem archive

Literature is one of Scotland’s principal national assets. Literature helps people develop the essential skills of literacy, articulacy, independence of thought and enterprise. It is also the carrier of our different languages.

Each month we feature a poem of the month, with information on the poet and their inspiration behind writing the poem.  Click on the the image or hyperlink to read past poems and the background information behind each of them. 

To view the current poem of the month - go to our Scots Features section.

Arc o Möns by Christie Williamson Featured in February 2009

The Lily by John Glenday Featured in December 2009

Aw Jock Tamson’s by Janet Paisley Featured in November 2009

Waas eftir cavafy by Robert crawford Featured in October 2009

The Lambs by Rab Wilson Featured in September 2009

The Godothin  by David C Purdie Featured in August 2009

It’s aboot the labour  by William Letford Featured in July 2009

Mither  Mither Tonuge  by Lucas Burnside Featured in June 2009

Keep it simple, son by Irene Brown Featured in May 2009

Heritage by Josie Neill Featured in April 2009

The Toun Graveyaird by John Manson Featured in March 2009

 

The Sweetness o the Aipple by Walter Perrie Featured in February 2009

The Boodie An The Craa by Douglas Kynoch Featured in January 2009

First Gemme by Derek Ross Featured in December 2008

The Retour o Troilus by Tom Hubbard Featured in November 2008

Abuin them aa by Colin donati Featured in October 2008

Haiku by John McDonald Featured in September 2008

Language by Morag MacInnes Featured in August 2008

Robin  by Margaret Gillies Brown Featured in July 2008

The Corbie an the Tod  by Walter Perrie Featured in June 2008

The Speak o Eden by George Hardie Featured in May 2008

A Raik tae the Letter-box By J. Derrick McClure Featured in April 2008

no image available Sailmaker's Palm by Dilys Rose Featured in March 2008

Fitba Cliche by Alistair Findlay Featured in February 2008

Snawy Beach by Rowena M Love Featured in January 2008

Aonghas MacNeacail mows e's meaddie by Andrew McCallum Featured in December 2007

from the Flora and Fauna of an Independent Scotland by Douglas Lipton Featured in November 2007

Caa' in the Boats by Eunice M Buchanan Featured in October 2007

Whiles I think by Mary Johnston Featured in September 2007

Betrayal in Morninside by Donald Campbell Featured in August 2007

Smeddum by Ellie McDonald Featured in July 2007

Untitled poem by Maureen Sangster Featured in June 2007

Streetwyce by John Murray Featured in May 2007

A Manifesto for MSPs by James Robertson Featured in April 2007

Nature Encore by Liz Niven Featured in March 2007

Chaunticleer's Prayer by Ian McFadyen Featured in February 2007

Kailyard and After by William Neil Featured in December 2006 and January 2007

The Siller Swan by Elaine Morton Featured in November 2006

Come Nicht by Raymond Vettese Featured in October 2006

Biggin by Rab Wilson Featured in September 2006

Tae Boryborygmusses (Valéry Larbaud) by David Kinloch Featured in August 2006

The Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh by Duncan Glen Featured in June and July 2006

McPelvis Meddley by WN Herbert Featured in May 2006

Beds by William Hershaw Featured in April 2006

Yersel an Masel by Lydia Robb Featured in March 2006

Existential Paraglidin in Turkey by Christine de Luca Featured in February 2006

Partners in the Firm by Ian Nimmo White Featured in January 2006

The Biggers by David C Purdie Featured in November and December 2005

Fergusson's Statue by James Robertson Featured in October 2005

Lanarkshire by Matthew Fitt Featured in September 2005

On Daith by David Purves Featured August 2005

Feed Ma Lamz by Tom Leonard Featured July 2005

Minoritie Status by Gyozo Ferencz, Scots version by Tom Hubbard Featured June 2005

The Fable o the Selkie and the Souses by Pablo Neruda, translated by Robert R Calder Featured May 2005

The Corbies by Colin Donati Featured April 2005

Respecting Literature in Schools by Alison Flett Featured March 2005

Sicht an Soon by Mary McCabe Featured February 2005

Acid Burns by Mike Cullen Featured in January 2005

Haunfast by Sheena Blackhall   Featured in December 2004

A Problem of Definition by Alan Jamieson    Featured in November 2004

Speirin by Kathleen Jamie  Featured in October 2004

	The Reid Hawk by James McGonigal    Featured in September 2004