A distinguished economist as well as poet, Sir Alexander Gray (1882-1968) offered these thoughts on his native land from an older, rural, non-urban, non-industrial, perspective.

from SCOTLAND

This is my country,

The land that begat me.

These windy spaces

Are surely my own.

And those who here toil

In the sweat of their faces

Are flesh of my flesh,

And bone of my bone.

Hard is the day's task -

Scotland, stern Mother -

Wherewith at all times

Thy sons have been faced:

Labour by day,

And scant rest in the gloaming,

With Want an attendant,

Not lightly outpaced.

Yet do thy children

Honour and love thee.

Harsh is thy schooling,

Yet great is the gain:

True hearts and strong limbs,

The beauty of faces,

Kissed by the wind

And caressed by the rain.