Andrew Philip: One Poem

Andrew Philip

Andrew Philip was born in Aberdeen in 1975 and grew up near Falkirk. He now lives near Edinburgh and works part-time for the Scottish Parliament’s equivalent of Hansard. In 2005, HappenStance Press published Tonguefire, his first poetry pamphlet, followed by Andrew Philip: A Sampler in 2008. His first full collection, The Ambulance Box, is due from Salt in March 2009. A well-known face on Edinburgh’s poetry scene, he was a member of Shore Poets for five years and was chosen as a Scottish Poetry Library ‘New Voice’ in 2006. His blog, Tonguefire, can be found at www.andrewphilip.net.

On your arrival

a certain piper suddenly found
the tune
that had eluded him for years

unseasonable rain picked up the beat
and broke
into a samba on the paving stones

the wind enthused the city, bawling
your name
down every close and over every hill

on Princes Street and North Bridge
shoppers asked
their brollies for the pleasure of this dance

while innumerable pigeons hummed along:
Ceud mile fàilte!
Ceud mile fàilte! Ceud mile fàilte!

Note:
Ceud mile fàilte (Gaelic): A hundred thousand welcomes!