Scots Poem of the Month - July 2008

Robin She’s sittin ticht in a shed in this byordiner nesting sicht - a sma inconspicuous box o cardboard, a wheen dilapidated and on its side in which the welder chiel whiles parked his goggles. That’s hoo he noticed it - at first a gressy bundle, he thocht the beginnins o a rat’s nest and chucked oot. He was no lookin when she built again, undaunted. until peerin in he sees brick-red rim o breest, dark glitterin e’e its bricht wee sperk the only movement. She’s an airm’s length frae his wark bench, the blue flashin licht that blins, grindin sperks that fly like meltin stern. Workin, he kens it must disturb her although no sign is gien. He’s pit up a wooden plank tae sheild but no tae hud her in – cannae dae muckle aboot the din. And noo he waits - anticipatin! Margaret Gillies Brown, from Sang o the Mavis, diehard publishers 2008 Poem supplied courtesy of the Scottish Poetry Library

Note on the origins of the poem The poem was inspired after my late husband, who had taken up welding, took me to his workshop to show me where a robin had built its nest.  I was amazed at how close it was to his workbench and touched by my husband's delight and excitement in the trust of the bird.  The story has a happy ending - the eggs hatched and the fledglings all survived.

About the Poet Margaret Gillies Brown is Scottish born and bred.  She became a State Registered Nurse before marrying a farmer and having seven children.  She started writing after her youngest went to school and has since had eight collections of poetry published and three prose books.  She has given many talks, workshops and poetry readings and her work has appeared in a variety of magazines and anthologies.  She has travelled extensively over the years.