Joanne Maria McNally

Edina, Scotia’s darling seat!
Hailed Burns in staunchly reverence
To claim, and claim, and claim again
Old Scotland’s rightful existence
Through idiom in verse and song
A nation born of hallowed tongue

Edina, braw bairn no more bow!
Formed of twin volcanic brow
With rugged seat and belly fired
Solidified, then edified
With castle crown
With nature’s fertile gown

Edina, Muse on stately dome
Friend to strangers, to bards a home
Formed of curving seams and nodules
Stratified with values social
Crowned with crags of steadfast lives
With writers lost whose fame survives

Edina, willows stroke your feet
Whisper glories, defy defeat
Clothe the deep gorge of old Nor’ Loch
Border scarred times of Castle Rock
Still visible ’neath works of men
And coverings of peaks and glen

Edina, buoyed by Arthur’s strength
Commanding awe and natural sense
Scanning waters of the North
Surveying isles amidst the Forth
Girded by mighty span of steel
Enriched by strands of commonweal*

Edina, with sovereign power reclaimed
Fairness, good faith impart your name
Embrace a multitude of views
Imbue your bairns with love of truth
Edina, arise from your bowed state
Dawn beckons your righteousness, your grace!

                                                              19 July, 2007

* commonweal – common welfare, public good