The Burrell Collection

The poem is about a famous collector of antiquities who left his collection to the people of Glasgow. This is housed in a custom - made building in the woods in Pollock Park. There the River Cart flows and my imagination was fired. Enjoy !

THE BURRELL COLLECTION

William Burrell's Merchant Fleet
Brought wealth to buy antiques and art.
He gifted all to Glasgow City,
To be kept in Pollock Park.

A masterpiece was built to house them,
Stone and glass within the woods.
Now ancient gods of Rome and Egypt
Stare at trees and frown and brood.

Glass and stone and trees combine,
With nature's bounty, ancient glories.
Statues, facing out to woods,
Communicate with old, old stories

As ancient kings and queens of Egypt
Whisper stories to the trees,
Tales from their "Book of the Dead"
Are carried by the fickle breeze.

And in the trees the magpies dream
Of river Nile in annual flood,
The precious water bringing life
To birds and people, fertile mud.

Magpies' bright eyes coldly glitter.
Pharoah's knowledge inside head
Magpies, crows and seagulls gather
River Cart will soon flow red.