Bonnie Wee Scotland by Nikki Kemp

Runner-up, Adult Poetry, Writing Rammy 2021

I wrote this poem when the drug related deaths numbers were revealed.

I work within addiction services in Falkirk and want to raise awareness, reduce stigma, challenge and tackle inequalities and make change. Nikki.

Bonnie wee Scotland
Crying oot for help
Aw these ‘druggies’
‘Get a grip of yerself’

They’re taking er the streets and
Its aw yi see
Everything hawnded on a plate
Whit about me?

But whit ye canny see is
It’s an illness in the brain
It’s how they cope wi
Agonising pain

Did you ever know them?
‘Scotland’s shame’?
1339 died last year
They aw have a name

Have you ever felt
The pain of a grieving mother
Lost a childhood friend
A sister or a brother?

Let’s show a little empathy
For those struggling to cope
Who use drugs as an escape
Let’s give them some hope

Let’s make Bonnie wee Scotland
Beautiful again
Let’s see how if we hold out a hand
We start to see change

Cos it’s no just aboot
Tidying up the streets
It’s aboot listening to their stories
Getting folk back on their feet

This message is to our leaders
Yer dain it aw wrong
Let’s get in aboot it
So nae mare are gone

Its no aboot the surface its getting doon to the root
Start showing you care
Instead of throwing yer money aboot

It’s people are whit makes it
So it’s time to make a change
Let’s make Bonnie wee Scotland
Beautiful again