Poem

A Poem for August: The Sun on Princes Street

The Sun on Princes Street On Saturday we stopped and gazed On Princes Street, on Princes Street, As unexpected came the sun And kissed the stone of Princes Street, And up above us, all the flags Fluttered brave on Princes Street, In semaphore they made the claim Of freedom there on Princes Street. And somewhere, […]

A Story for June: ‘Homecoming’

An early summer treat. Alexander says of this poem, ‘Every journey must end, and that may be at home – the most glorious ending of all.’ Homecoming If there is one story that we, in our need for narrative, Persistently ask for, it is a tale of homecoming; The journey of a classical hero coming […]

To Sweden and Back Again with Alexander McCall Smith

Date Published: 24th November 2022

A visit to Sweden Alexander has just returned from a visit to Sweden. A series of poems he wrote on the subject of trees has been used by a group of young composers as the basis for various compositions. The composers were all senior students of the Lilla Academien, Sweden’s most distinguished school for musically […]

A Day in September – on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Date Published: 13th September 2022

‘A Day in September’ is a poem, written by Alexander McCall Smith, to mark the the occasion of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This poem was carried on the front page of the Sunday Times, London, on 11 September You can listen to Alexander read his poem at the link below: A Day in […]

Spring Comes, Even This Year – World Poetry Day

Date Published: 19th March 2021

This weekend we mark the Spring Equinox and International Day of Happiness on Saturday (20 March), and World Poetry Day on Sunday (21 March). It has been a tough year since these dates last came round with humanity united by the challenges of a global pandemic and the urgent need for rapid scientific advance that might bring release from […]

My Irreplaceable Other: A Valentine’s Day Poem by Alexander McCall Smith

Date Published: 12th February 2021

Alexander awoke recently with this poem almost fully formed in his mind, as if it came to him in his sleep. He shares it with you today as people across the world celebrate love.

A Poem for October – Fall

The following is taken from Alexander’s collection of poetry, ‘In a Time of Distance’, to be published in 2021. In it, he has a sequence – A Scottish Four Seasons. Here is Autumn as we say in Scotland, or Fall: Autumn or Fall  Look, the migrating birds Are leaving us, small souls That brave three […]

Shine a Light on International Nurses Day

Date Published: 12th May 2020

Today is International Nurses Day and this post is nothing more and nothing less than a sincere and heartfelt ‘thank you‘  to nurses everywhere who have been on the frontline for the fight against Coronavirus. We are asked to shine a light from our windows tonight, 12 May 2020, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence […]

For Those Who Care… A Poem of Gratitude

Date Published: 14th April 2020

One of the most striking images of this time of crisis has been that of people coming to the doors of their houses to express their gratitude to doctors, nurses, care workers, and ambulance drivers – and all those working in the hospitals and clinics. This applause for the people who care for others has […]

A Poem for Troubled Times

Date Published: 19th March 2020

These are very difficult times for so many. I have been very touched by the messages that I have received from readers, many of whom are isolated now and are renewing their friendship with Mma Ramotswe and the others. I have written a poem especially for this moment. It comes to you with my warmest wishes, and my hope that you are keeping well. AMcS

A Poem going down rather well in Australia

Date Published: 11th March 2018

Readers attending Alexander’s events in Dubai and Australia have been taken with a poem he read, The Language of Pilots. This poem is now included in Emirates Literature Festival 10th Anniversary book, For the Love of Words but we are pleased to reproduce it here too. The language of pilots By Alexander McCall Smith   They speak with […]

A maker of beautiful books—Stephanie Wolfe Murray

Date Published: 26th August 2017

Stephanie Wolfe Murray, founder of the Scotland-based publishing house—Canongate, died on 24 June 2017. She was both friend and inspiration. A memorial event was held at Edinburgh International Book Festival for which Alexander McCall Smith wrote the following poem. He shared the stage with fellow writers Tom Pow, Mairi Hedderwick and Alasdair Gray and many from […]