Ten Poems about Edinburgh

Edinburgh has always had eminent admirers; according to Robert Louis Stevenson, “Edinburgh is what Paris ought to be” while for Charlotte Brontë it was captivatingly “lyric” and “bright”. This lively and exhilarating mini-anthology reflects the many ways in which Scotland’s ancient capital city is loved by visitors and the people who live there.

There are poems celebrating the beauty of Edinburgh’s buildings and parks alongside others capturing moments in its long history and vivid life as a hub of art, music and literature. Throughout are the atmospheres created by its distinctive weathers and the proximity of the North Sea:

“The night tinkles like ice in glasses.
Leaves are glued to the pavement with frost.
The brown air fumes at the shop windows,
Tries the doors, and sidles past.”

from ‘November Night, Edinburgh’ by Norman MacCaig

The pamphlet is a perfect companion for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the many riches of this glorious city.

Poems by Janette Ayachi, Robert Burns, Jackie Kay, Marjorie Lotfi, Edwin Morgan, Hugh MacDiarmid, Norman MacCaig, Hollie McNish, Michael Pedersen and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Cover illustration by Emily Hogarth.