Scottish Parliament hears about community life through poetry

Corbenic’s Jon Plunkett has been chosen by the Scottish Parliament to read his poem Meanwhile for the Scottish Parliament’s Time for Reflection. Jon was nominated by local MSP, John Swinney the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills.  He read his poem on Tuesday 11th August, and received a warm response from MSPs.

Turbulent and calm

The beautiful poem reflects the meaning, strength and value of life in community

turbulent and calm, but never stagnant.

It was written before coronavirus came along, and lockdown left so many of us isolated and struggling to cope with the disruption that accompanied this major shift to life as we knew it.

Listen to the poem

You can listen to Jon reading his poem by clicking the link below:

 

In various places at various times

people discuss community –

what it was, or is.

What it could be,

or should be.

Meanwhile

on a spread of land by the River Braan

trees knit the earth into place

while their branches point to things beyond.

And in workshops clay is spun into pots,

pots are used for drinks and moments shared.

Flour is kneaded into dough, dough baked into bread,

bread delivered by small steps and swinging baskets.

Fields are ploughed into furrows.

Seeds stretch to drink the sun. Animals are fed.

Horses are cared for.

Wool is spun into weave, design is pressed into art.

Wood is ringed and split. Wood is warmth.

Days are turned into dates, dates into festivals.

Houses are turned into homes,

And plans into action (most of the time!)

Wax is melted into moulds,

liquid into solid, solid into light.

Needs are met with care, care leads to love.

And within, and around and between

all these small transformations

are joinings of one being to another.

So people can discuss community—

what it was, or is.

What it could be,

or should be.

Meanwhile

here, on our spread of land by the River Braan

community is what it is, and carries on.

Turbulent and calm, turbulent and calm,

but never stagnant,

and like the river,

flowing always

to depths unknown.