Tag Archives: scottish poetry library

Drown Not Wee Blossom

Happy Thursday! Here in Edinburgh we’re swimming through the streets thanks to this day of rain, but I’m appreciating it because someone was just telling me that in Ibiza there are no rivers anymore because there is no rainfall… is that true? Anyway, it makes me feel lucky to be in a place where thereContinue reading “Drown Not Wee Blossom”

Otata, The Temples and The Three Cities

I have been lucky to have been travelling quite a bit lately – I am actually writing this from the Dostoevsky Library in Moscow where, thanks to the British Council and the Edwin Morgan Trust, I am facilitating a translation workshop between three Scottish poets and three Russian poets.  This trip follows close on theContinue reading “Otata, The Temples and The Three Cities”

CLICK CLACK: A little poetry and music…

Kick off the festival season with a little music, more music, and poetry and music. OPUL (the marvellous James Iremonger and me) will be playing some new pieces, showcased thus far only in distant and beautiful Montreal at the Le 17e Festival de la poésie de Montréal. I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Snibbo yet but IContinue reading “CLICK CLACK: A little poetry and music…”

If a Leaf Falls Press at Good Press

Very excited to be reading at this on 6 August: If a Leaf Falls Press at Good Press Saturday 6th August 2016 3-6pm With readings by… Maria Fusco reading Notes on Comic Face nick-e melville reading slippage/pigsclap twice Sam Riviere reading Cont. and Preferences Mike Saunders reading george clooney will always be handsome: towards a phenomonology ofContinue reading “If a Leaf Falls Press at Good Press”

New Poems, New Places

New blog about the recent trip to the Festival de la poésie de Montréal up on the SPL website today: Canadian Dreaming and a couple of recent publications: Dangerous Emotions as part of the magnificent Dangerous Women Project, and poems in Far Off Places and The Reader Huge thanks to the editors and publishers who haveContinue reading “New Poems, New Places”

Poetry, poetry and more poetry!

So much has been happening lately that I have not had time to share.  I will include some links in this post to recent events and excitements. I had this article about borders, passports and writers working abroad in politically-complicated countries published in The Bottle Imp, a wonderful online journal that exists to promote and support theContinue reading “Poetry, poetry and more poetry!”

SYMPOETRY on film

I feel so happy when I watch this film by Wee Dog Media documenting our SYMPOETRY: SPL Poetry Symposium last November.  Hope you enjoy it too!

“The Writer’s Life” with JL Williams

On 17 February, at the CCA in Glasgow, I will be reading some of my poems and talking about what it’s like to be a poet at this event for the Scottish Writers’ Centre, which is a fabulous organisation that supports writers! Please do join us if you’re in the Wild West that evening, andContinue reading ““The Writer’s Life” with JL Williams”

Burns and Feminism

I had the pleasure of attending the Med-Chi Burns Supper on Friday.  I was there to deliver a ‘Reply to the Toast to the Lassies’ that I hope would make my Wellesley College compatriots proud. The Tools of the Trade anthology is mentioned; I couldn’t resist as I was speaking to a room full ofContinue reading “Burns and Feminism”

A Poet in the Garden

At the Scottish Poetry Library we’ve been experimenting with the possibility of making short film interviews with poets. Hopefully this is the first of many. Interview and film by Julie Johnstone, in the beautiful Dunbar Close Garden across the street from the SPL. A Scottish Poetry Library Light Rhymes Production 2014.

Gerry Loose EIBF Walking With Poets Interview

Gerry Loose EIBF Walking With Poets Interview This is an interview I did for Summerhall TV with the poet Gerry Loose, one of our SPL Walking With Poets residents.  He talks about the event we did at Edinburgh International Book Festival in which he discussed three of his favourite nature poems, and the history ofContinue reading “Gerry Loose EIBF Walking With Poets Interview”

Kay Ryan SPL Podcast

Kay Ryan SPL Podcast It was an honour and a joy to spend time with US poet Kay Ryan when she was over for the Edinburgh International Book Festival.  She is so beautiful, brilliant and funny, and I felt that listening to her was like sitting at the feet of a guru whose every insightContinue reading “Kay Ryan SPL Podcast”

Terry Deary and Moray Council Make Me Sad

It makes me so sad to read of ignorance like this and like this.  I went to school.  I even got to read poetry in school, and it was wonderful.  But it was in my local public library where I first remember falling in love with a book of poetry; taking it home, cherishing the words,Continue reading “Terry Deary and Moray Council Make Me Sad”

Best Scottish Poems 2011

Special Note: This poem will be featured on the front page of the Scottish Poetry Library website on 7th of June… Have a read that day if you wish. This year’s Scottish Poetry Library Anthology Best Scottish Poems 2011, edited by the marvellous Roddy Lumsden, is now out. I feel so privileged to have aContinue reading “Best Scottish Poems 2011”