The Morning After

As many of you know Scotland has a massive decision to make on Thursday. Sadly there has been a lot of aggression and lies on both sides and I came across this wonderful poem last week written by Edinburgh Makar Christine De Luca which i hope the Scots will embrace whatever the result.

     

The Morning After 

Scotland, 19th September 2014

Let none wake despondent: one way 

or another we have talked plainly, 

tested ourselves, weighed up the sum

of our knowing, ta’en tent o scholars, 

checked the balance sheet of risk and 

fearlessness, of wisdom and of folly. 

Was it about the powers we gain or how 

we use them?  We aim for more equality; 

and for tomorrow to be more peaceful

than today; for fairness, opportunity, 

the common weal; a hand stretched out

in ready hospitality.   

It’s those unseen things that bind us, 

not flag or battle-weary turf or tartan.

There are dragons to slay whatever happens:

poverty, false pride, snobbery, sectarian 

schisms still hovering. But there’s

nothing broken that’s not repairable.

We’re a citizenry of bonnie fighters,

a gathered folk; a culture that imparts,

inspires, demands a rare devotion,  

no back-tracking; that each should work

and play our several parts to bring about

the best in Scotland, an open heart.

Christine De Luca