Beyond Calton Road:
Architecture and Love
The handsome streeets of Glasgow hide themselves
Lest some conspiracy of tastelessness
Combined with so-called progress pries and delves
With jackhammers and bulldozers to mess
Up everything. In Edinburgh, though,
The ugly bits are tucked away beneath
A crown of spires and castle, or, below
Some scenes spread out along the lines of Leith,
Sprawl like promiscuity round ideals
Of love. We walk from Holyrood along
A tacky road until our fate reveals
Stone steps up toward volcanic heights. Then strong
Desire which leads away from common parts
Provides a place for kiss and arching hearts.