SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 1004 Title : Poems from "Stravaigin" Author(s): Liz Niven Copyright holder(s): Liz Niven Text Stravaigin Like fitprints in peat bog, we've left wir mark. Even the moon cairries the stamp o a Borders man. Strang arms reach roon the globe sing Auld Lang Syne, The warld wears a kilt, nane the waur forrit. A warp an weft o trevellers. Wha's like us? Fit prints like? *** Exile Wi'oot leavin yer ain lan ye can still be an exile wha watches the lies o the lan, the leid aw taen fae within. A sleekit kinna wey o kiddin ye wi veneers o democracy. At least here in Prague it wis clear that oppressors wir in. An ye kent fir sure when they left. *** Tourists at Auschwitz We'd been telt nae birds wid sing. True it wis bit tall trees shrooded brick wark camps. Row upon row, they stretcht, far as the greetin een cuid see. Hidden fae view, gas chaumers lay buriet, unner foondations crummlt, as butcher builders fleed. A million an a hauf stanes pave memorials in monie tungs. A brick fir ilka deid sowel. Vyces are low, few picters taen. Nearhaun,a watter-fillt hollow, algae covert, still hauds human ash. A haun-wringin guide tells us mair. Wirds hing heavy. Intae sic silence, a green puddock lowps a perfit bow, oan the staignant loch. This work is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The SCOTS Project and the University of Glasgow do not necessarily endorse, support or recommend the views expressed in this document. Information about document and author: Text Text audience Adults (18+): General public: Audience size: 1000+ Text details Method of composition: Wordprocessed Year of composition: 2001 Word count: 215 Text medium Book: Text publication details Published: Publisher: Canongate Publication year: 2001 Place of publication: Edinburgh ISBN/ISSN: 184195134X Part of a longer series of texts: Name of series: Stravaigin - poetry collection Text type Poem/song/ballad: Author Author details Author id: 19 Forenames: Liz Surname: Niven Gender: Female Decade of birth: 1950 Educational attainment: University Age left school: 17 Occupation: Writer Place of birth: Glasgow Region of birth: Glasgow Birthplace CSD dialect area: Gsw Country of birth: Scotland Place of residence: Dumfries Region of residence: E & Mid Dumfries Residence CSD dialect area: Dmf Country of residence: Scotland Father's occupation: Gardener Father's place of birth: Glasgow Father's region of birth: Glasgow Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: Gsw Father's country of birth: Scotland Mother's occupation: Seamstress Mother's place of birth: Glasgow Mother's region of birth: Glasgow Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Gsw Mother's country of birth: Scotland Languages: Language: English Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Work / home Language: French Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: With French people / films Language: Scots Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Work / home