Poetic Gems

McGonagall published over 200 poems in his lifetime, mostly on printed broadsheets he sold in the street or after giving one of his "entertainments". These poems may be perused here, grouped either by publication or by subject matter.

Poems by Publication

The name "Poetic Gems" chosen by McGonagall for his first (and only) book of poems has been adopted and adapted for later collections of his work. Choose from one of the titles below:

Poems by Subject

Though most famous for his disaster poems, McGonagall's range of subjects was actually far wider:

Gem of the Day:

The Battle of Alexandria

The French, emboldened by liquor and the promise of gold, are beaten by the British

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I earnestly hope the inhabitants of the beautiful city of Dundee
Will appreciate this little volume got up by me,
And when they read its pages, I hope it will fill their hearts with delight,
While seated around the fireside on a cold winter's night;
And some of them, no doubt, will let a silent tear fall
In dear remembrance of

Contemporary sketch of McGonagall