Here is his poem. To a mouse, again Poor creature, modest and undemanding, Inhabitant of a murine world Whose citizens ask little enough: A scrap of cheese, even discarded rind, Is a banquet for these small folk; Your footprint on our shared earth Is so tiny, undetectable to most eyes, Usually obliterated by our stamping around, By our destroying of all the little corners In which your civilization flourishes; By our covering with concrete of all your hidey-holes, Those nurseries in which you raise Your timid, bright-eyed family. A gulf keeps us apart – the immensity Of our pride, our greed, our lack of interest In small and furry beings who cannot Be made to pay in some way; We shall never meet, you and I, On equal terms, in friendship, And yet I send you this – my love, Although it may mean nothing to you, And say, as well, I’m truly sorry; Perhaps one day we’ll learn at last To tread a bit more carefully, perhaps. - This poem has been written specially by Alexander McCall Smith for a fundraising auction being held at the Edinburgh Lord Provost’s Burns Supper on Friday, January 26 in aid of OneCity Trust. All funds raised to go to grant making activities in 2024.