Elspeth has passed
Elspeth has passed
no warnings
no goodbye’s
the belief
she held in me
in a single line of precious words
became my life raft
through deep waters
to grow a poet
a working class woman poet
from shame and fracture
Elspeth knew what to do
she believed in me in my past
shared her dazzling truths
investing her wisdom in me
I became my authentic self
“I am a Poet” I claimed my right
if Elspeth knew this
I now had a twin truth
I found a strength of spirit
felt lifted up!
I became a poet in my own graith
no letters after my name
no honours no prizes
Elspeth had spoken up for me
I was enough
I was on my ancestral path
my steps illuminated
by this woman of values
hewer of herstory and knowledge
pivotal to my confidence
life changing
her alchemy reached out to
All the People of her Beloved Scotland
Elspeth has passed.
Christine Quarrell
6/11/25 ©️cmq
Image shows the poet, right, with friend and fellow campaigner, Elspeth King, who has died recently.
Obituary in The Guardian 16/11/25
Tribute by Friends of the People’s Palace, Winter Gardens and Glasgow Green
Featured image shows Elspeth with Smudge The Cat, the People’s Palace mouser. Photo credit: The Peoples Palace