Early day motion · EDM 383 · 27 Apr 2020
Centenary of the birth of Scots poet Edwin Morgan
Tabled by Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party)
35 signatures
The motion
That this House celebrates the centenary of the birth of Edwin Morgan, considered one of Scotland's greatest poets, who was born on 27 April 1920; recognises that he was named the first Scots Makar in 2004, first Glasgow Poet Laureate inn 1999, and recipient of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 2000; notes that he matriculated at the University of Glasgow in 1937, his studies interrupted by World War Two during which he served as a non-combatant conscientious objector, graduating in 1947 before teaching there his entire working life, being appointed titular Professor of English in 1975; recognises that he published 25 collections of poetry, translated hundreds of poems and wrote plays which were forward-thinking, internationalist and intergalactic and continue to be published, produced, taught and celebrated around the world; appreciates that Glasgow and Scotland lay at the heart of his accessible, engaging and often humorous work, and that his writing about his experience as a gay man had a significant impact on social attitudes and political change in Scotland; acknowledges his continuing legacy through the Edwin Morgan Trust and Poetry Award for young poets in Scotland; supports the Trust's #EdwinMorgan100 celebrations and looks forward to its physical programme of events taking place From Glasgow to Saturn once it is safe to do so; and remembers his words written for the opening of the Scottish Parliament building in 2004, We give you our deepest dearest wish to govern well, don’t say we have no mandate to be so bold.
Source: the official Early Day Motions database.