Scots Markar Jackie Kay to perform with Suzanne Bonnar before The Queen, MSPs

SCOTLAND, United Kingdom – Scots Markar, Jackie Kay will write and perform a specially commissioned new piece of poetry before Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the II, the Queen of England and Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) as part of activities to mark the 20 years anniversary of the Scottish Parliament in June 29, 2019.

The celebrated novelist and poet, Jackie Kay will perform  along with a celebrated Jazz musician, Suzanne Bonnar; BSL performer Moira Anne McAuslan; and Scottish Youth Theatre performer Lewis McCaskill, who will be performing in Gaelic.

Jackie Kay will be performing the poem,  “The Long View” which explores how the parliament has changed, and changed Scotland, over the past 20 years and celebrates some of those who were born on 1 July 1999, the same day the Parliament received its powers.

According to the Scottish Parliament, many of those born that day will be present in the Chamber when the Makar performs her work, which she will perform along with celebrated jazz musician Suzanne Bonnar; BSL performer Moira Anne McAuslan; and Scottish Youth Theatre performer Lewis McCaskill performing in Gaelic.

Speaking on the performance, Jackie Kay,  who is renowned for the warmth, generosity and humour of her performances said: 

“At a time of political change.  it is lovely to have something to celebrate.  I think we can all be justly proud of our Parliament’s journey and just how much it has involved and engaged the people.  I wanted to try and capture that journey and to celebrate the young in particular.”

Jakie Kay won the Guardian fiction prize in 1998 for her first novel, Trumpet, and was awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2006.  Her first collection of poetry, The Adoption Papers, was published in 1991 and named Scottish First Book of the Year.  Jackie Kay  is currently the chancellor of Salford University.

Here is the opening stanza:

THE LONG VIEW

When you were born, my daughter, my son

The half-moon grinned and the sun shone
You came after a long song of a labour
Of years and years – and then some! 
It was July when you at last appeared, hanselled 
With the mace from her Majesty – Ma’am, Good Day  
bright eyed, flushed, newest day!
And the crags at your tiny feet, and Arthur’s seat.

When you were born, bairn,
Red Arrows flew over your city
And everyone you met, Pet,
Wanted to join you on your journey –

Between the lochs and the ferns
Between the braes and the bens
Between the crofts and the bothies
Between the Rowans and the pines.
Between the high rise and the tenements
And the Wimpey houses in the big cities

Between the north and the south, the east and the west,
And the land and the seas…