Poem of the week: Angus Reid - Calls for a Constitution

SINCE its opening the Scottish Parliament has found room for poetry. Famously, at that opening in 2004, the National Poet Liz Lochhead read a poem written for the occasion by Edwin Morgan.

A new art project based on the poem ‘Call for a Constitution’ by Angus Reid goes on display at the Parliament from 17-28 September. The poem, which is split down the middle, is painted on walls that meet at a right-angle; you have to position yourself at the corner to read it in its entirety. The poem asks the question, ‘What kind of country do you want to live in?’ Reid will make a presentation to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament on 25 September at 6pm. Those interested in contributing to that discussion should make contact through his website at www.angusreid.co.uk

if I as a writer of poetry

were called upon to give a form of words

to model the nation’s behaviour

it would be this

ownership obliges

everyone to respect and to care for

the sacred

to respect and to care for

freedom of conscience

and to recognise

the gift of every individual

to respect it

care for it nourish it

to care for and protect communities

and

to care for the land

and wherever

the land has been abused to restore it

so that it can support all forms of life

five principles five fingers on the hand