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Gown of Repentance

Gown of Repentance

Jamie Jauncey writes about this penitential sackcloth, which you can see in the Scotland Transformed gallery on Level 3.

Jonet Addresses the Kirk

You want repentance?
Stick your fingers
Down my gullet
Haul it out
I’ll stand here
In this sack
Till kingdom come

Your pursed lips
My thickening belly
Your scalding looks
My swollen breasts
Your unclean thoughts

Tell me
Old crow
Who’s the sinner?

If it’s wrong
To love then
I swear on
All that’s holy
I’ll be faithful
To my wrong
Amen

About the author

Jamie Jauncey

Jamie Jauncey is a copywriter and also writes for Young Adults. He sits on the Board of the Edinburgh International Book Festival and also on the Board of 26. He is interested in the project because “standard museum-speak so often fails to connect the reader with the object in an imaginative or emotional way.”

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What are these links?

Gown of repentance

On display

  • Scotland Transformed

Creation story

  • Gown of repentance

About the author

  • Jamie Jauncey's website

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National Museums Scotland, Scottish Charity, No. SC 011130