Title: John Knox’s Grave
Author: Aileen Ballantyne
Number: 77/100
Allocated postcode: EH1
John Knox’s Grave
Ye haivered an ye thonnered
an ye spewed oot yer wraith
frae the poupit ivery week.
Whit wid ye rant aboot nou John?
Cooncillors rippin up
yer fair toun
wi naither rhyme nor reason –
fur the trams?
Ye’re lyin oot thare neglec’it
unner caur space 23.
Its no richt really.
Fir a yer mony faults,
ye foonded a releegion.
But yae haed the last
lauch, efter a’.
Leuk: here’s anither, payin his respects.
This ane’s got a Ford Cortina,
sayin a prayer o’ thanks
ower yer tarry grave-slab
fir that rarest o’ things:
a parkin place in Embro.
[...] No. 75: Where it lies by Struan Robertson No. 76: The River At Cramond by Aileen Ballantyne No. 77: John Knox’s Grave by Aileen Ballantyne No. 78: Cables by Kate Charles No. 79: Mary King’s Close by Aileen Lobban No. 80: Edin [...]
Enjoyed this a lot. Though I’ve no knowledge of Scots, the poem’s power came through loud and clear, even if I stumbled over one or two of the words. Thank you, Aileen Ballantyne.