Hullo ma wee blog,
Another poem from Norman MacCaig.
A Man In My Position. {1968}
Hear my words carefully.
Some are spoken,
Not by me, but
By a man in my position.
What right has he,
To use my mouth? I hate him,
when he touches you,
The wrong way.
Yet he loves you also,
This appalling stranger,
Who makes windows of my eyes.
You see him looking out.
Until he dies,
Of my love for you,
Hear my words carefully -
For who is talking now?
10 comments:
Thought-provoking. Why must you make me think on my day of rest? Ah, well, it's worth it.
Loving your Sunday Post editions! I've never heard of MacCaig before coming across your postings here, but I'm liking catching up on him!
Hullo Ladies,
Ha! I'm glad you're both enjoying these poems by MacCaig. It's good stuff {and thought provoking even on a Sunday} isn't it?
I thought this perhaps would be a nice 'twist' in preparation for Valentines day........
Have a good week.
Are you near St. Cuthberts, Edinburgh? Distant relatives were married there in 1820. From The States
Hullo anon. I live about 30 miles to the East of Edinburgh, a small village near the coast between Dunbar and Berwick upon Tweed. My wife's parents married in St Cuthberts Edinburgh in 1965.
Thanks for the visit and the comment. Come back anytime....
Thanks Alistair, Distant relative was James MacNaughton (b. 1838 d 1905), the gunsmith, of Edinburgh. His parents were the ones married in St. Cuthberts (1820), David McNaughton and Jane or Jean Clark. I think David (1795-1854) was a shoemaker or bootmaker in Edinburgh. Neat stuff this genealogy but don't know why one used McN and the other MacN. You can only find so much on the internet.
Great poem. Enough said! Apparently I'm not allowed to watch the vids in the last post - 'not available in your area'. Oh well.
Anon - Aye it's a fascinating hobby that's true. I wouldn't get too hung up on the Mac V Mc debate. They're completely interchangeable and even in those days were often changed throughout a lifetime or a generation. It may even have been a simple thing like a teachers preference. Some of my own ancestors changed from Farrel {Irish} to a more Scotticised Fairlie for some reason, probably to avoid some discrimination or other with the influx of refugees from the potato famine in the early 1800's.
Rebecca - thats a shame. Theses are BBC clips though. You might find ones that work on youtube - I know they are there too under 'Gary - Tank Commander'. I'm glad you are enjoying the poems......
It seems sad that poets of this caliber are not more widely known. I'm enjoying these Sunday posts.
I'm pleased so many folk are enjoying them like I have been. Seems like it's been a good idea to share them.
Thanks MM.
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