stone, n. Anglo Dano Berwick-upon-English
seeking dreary Traprain’s homeless shelter
below the tears of a North Sea night

talk, v. to Knesset, Dail or snarl
one who Holyroods, a chatterbox, an informant,
ending usu. in too much gossip

move, v. to choose the seals’ song
to bury both church and man, to chastise fate
to make a gift of a Norseman’s fist for the dawn

more, adj. more eyes, more energy, more heart
more Glasgow, more Ayr, more Fife and Catalan
more light, more love

gathering, n. dowry of words unfulfilled
harp still as a silver cup, war cries fresh sprayed
on concrete umbrellas, down digital valleys

New Year’s Eve, n. along a Marseilles alley
in the hour’s final worrying, a cup knocks down Fergusson and Dunbar
two ravens call as all the years fade

A selection of verses from Scottish National Diction
translated into English by the author