George Gunn read the following poem at the republican rally on Calton Hill on the day of the coronation on Saturday 6th May.
ODE TO THE SCOTTISH REPUBLIC
(Calton Hill, Edinburgh, 6.5.23)
My allegiance is to the Scottish people
to all people
to be called a British subject
& to swear allegiance to a King
while my country has no place
among nations
is to be a ghost
& to bear disgrace
it is the dispossession of all citizens
of our future Republic
to see the number of the poor increase
while one hundred million & more
is spent to put a crown on a coof
is to shame our Democracy
to see her discarded in the gutter
in a coat of rags
her feet in rillans
hame hame hame
hame wid I be
hame hame hame
in my ain countrie
wae the birk an the pine
an the bonnie rowan tree
ah bloomin fair
in my ain countrie
the Lord of Misrule
in his Summer tents
ponders momentarily
current events
stealing our destiny
as he steals our rents
but no more
no more
for the King will see
our Republic rising up
out of the ground
seeking a new simplicity
the republican wind
blows through the liberty tree
no King can escape the coming melee
hame hame hame
hame wid I be
hame hame hame
in my ain countrie
when the new Moon
will be born
on the carrying stream
so that we may be
the Republic of the people’s desire
we make the song
we catch the fire
free of tyranny
I can taste the sweet salt of Freedom
on my tongue
as we gather here to proclaim
that which is obvious to the young
let us change elegy into hymn
remake it all
let us not fail again
in oor ain countrie
& for the love of our people
let us make our Scottish Republic
& make it strong
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also see:-
What happens when it stops raining? – from the Province of the Cat – George Gunn, bella caledonia