This visionary view of the city of Glasgow - with cultural references taking in Moses, a levitating Mercedes, and Elgar’s first symphony - comes from Alan Riach’s new collection, The Winter Book (Luath Press, £8.99). The themes of the collection range from the contemporary and public, such as the independence issue, to poignantly personal reflections on family bereavement.

THE APPROACH: GLASGOW

INDEPENDENT

It’s crossing the hill from Ayrshire

in the biggest Mercedes you ever saw,

more powerful than anything you’ve driven then or since,

like Moses through the sea held back, before and after you

touch-steering, light, and graceful as a ship

and almost airborne now coming over the curve in sunshine, blue,

the bright Atlantic breeze, and down below in front of you it’s all

laid out, presented: the lean white pencil of the science centre tower,

the University, the Finnieston Crane, the Armadillo, lemon wedge,

the soaring keeps and battlements of Ilium,

the schemes and grey estates off to the east,

the Campsie Fells ahead, Dumbarton and Dumgoyne

and the high road to Ben Lomond, way over in the west.

You’re approaching the long sweep down to the valley of Clyde,

and the car is full of the first long movement, nobility, simplicity,

of Elgar’s first great symphony, with all to come in prospect:

you’re five miles south of the river, heading north to the city

you’re over a thousand feet above the sea

you’re flying and the day ahead is freedom.