Strawberries are the food of love in this tender poem of passion set in Glasgow’s West End on a sultry summer’s day. It is one of the most popular compositions by Edwin Morgan (1920-2010), Scotland’s first official national poet and an inspiring lecturer at Glasgow University.

STRAWBERRIES

There were never strawberries

like the ones we had

that sultry afternoon

sitting on the step

of the open french window

facing each other

your knees held in mine

the blue plates in our laps

the strawberries glistening

in the hot sunlight

we dipped them in sugar

looking at each other

not hurrying the feast

for one to come

the empty plates

laid on the stone together

with the two forks crossed

and I bent towards you

sweet in that air

in my arms

abandoned like a child

from your eager mouth

the taste of strawberries

in my memory

lean back again

 

let me love you

let the sun beat

on our forgetfulness

one hour of all

the heat intense

and summer lightning

on the Kilpatrick hills

 

let the storm wash the plates