World Veterinary Day Celebrated With Poetry

Poet and Edinburgh University alumnus Russell Jones, has created a unique syringe-shaped poem for World Veterinary Day.

This year's theme for World Veterinary Day is the “Value of Vaccination” and as part of our celebrations, Edinburgh University alumnus Dr Russell Jones, has created a unique syringe-shaped poem for the Dick Vet. 

Poet and Author

Dr Russell Jones is an Edinburgh-based writer and editor. He has published five collections of poetry and edited three anthologies. He is deputy editor of “Shoreline of Infinity”, a sci-fi magazine. He also writes stories for children, YA/adult novels and has a PhD in Creative Writing. He is an alumnus of The University of Edinburgh, with an MSc and PhD in Creative Writing. 

World Veterinary Day

This year's World Veterinary Day is themed “Value of Vaccination” and we have been looking at some of the work which is conducted within the School and The Roslin Institute. You can find out more about our work here. 

In Human Sanctuaries 

Read Russell's poem below, or find the transcript at the bottom of this post. 

Related Links

Russell Jones Alumni Profile

About the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is a one-of-a-kind centre of excellence in clinical activity, teaching and research. Our purpose-built campus, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Pentland Hills Regional Park, is home to more than eight hundred staff and almost fourteen hundred students, all of whom contribute to our exceptional community ethos.

The School comprises:

• The Roslin Institute
• The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security
• The Roslin Innovation Centre
• The Hospital for Small Animals
• Equine Veterinary Services
• Farm Animal Services
• Easter Bush Pathology
• The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education

We represent the largest concentration of animal science related expertise in Europe, impacting local, regional, national and international communities in terms of economic growth, the provision of clinical services and the advancement of scientific knowledge.

Transcript

In Human Sanctuaries

stick to the point

of a needle, shrill tip,

quick nip, longer story:

declining dog – raging, slathered, distempered

feeble feline – crimson eyes, tainted milk, hard to breathe

hoarse horse – unstable, lock-jawed, equine sneeze

parasites bucking

guts like broncos

hypodermic cattle

calves, kids

wallow

spine arch

convulse

eye roll

swallow.

Resist.

Vaccinate

to see

schools

of fish

swim

serene &

stabilised,

bird brains

bright &

wings

world-wide,

futures

& fields

fortified,

eons

saved.

Be

glad

we

are

a part

of this system

& solution