A LITTLE known poem by William Topaz McGonagall that chronicles his visit to the Dundee Flower Show in 1886 will be given its public premier at the opening of the Dundee Flower and Food Festival at Camperdown Country Park this morning.

Dressed in period costume, actor Paul Dundee will recite the tribute as he walks through the festival arena.

The work, simply titled “The Dundee Flower Show”, was composed by McGonagall in September 1886 and published in a Penny Broadside newsletter.

The original work— which is dedicated to The Right Honourable Earl of Dalhousie—is still held within the archives of the rare book collection at Central Library in Dundee.

The performance of the poem at the Dundee Flower and Food Festival is thought to be the first time it has been aired in public in almost 120 years.

Lord Provost John Letford, chairman of the City of Discovery Campaign that is a major sponsor of the festival, was particularly taken by a reference in the poem to Provost Ballingall and his chrysanthemums.

His predecessor served the city from 1884 and his name can be found among the list of provosts held at Dundee City Chambers.

Lord Provost Letford said, “The poem is remarkable because many of the themes that run through it are still relevant to the Dundee Flower and Food Festival in 2005.

“It is obvious McGonagall was very taken by the festival and enjoyed the exhibits which had come from all over the north-east of Scotland.”

The poem is 15 verses long and is in typical McGonagall style. Below is a sample:

Twas in the year of 1886, and in the 2nd day of September,

Which the lovers of horticultural beauty will long remember,

Especially those that visited the Flower Show, on the Magdalen Green, Dundee,

Must confess it was really a most magnificent sight to see,

And the Mars’ Boys band were there on Friday afternoon

And their instruments seemed to be in very good tune

They discoursed sweet music until six o’clock,

While the people around them did flock.

There were also some beautiful Chrysanthemums, distinct,

All in full bloom, with a charming tint,

Some of them short and some of them tall,

And some of them belonging to Provost Ballingall

And there were twenty four roses distinct to be seen,

Belonging to James Cocker and Sons, Aberdeen,

Also some beautiful roses as ever sprang from the earth,

And some of them belonging to Dickens & Turnbull Perth.

The other verses are in similar vein, with almost everyone who took part getting a mention.