The time has come to pass on the torch to the new Edinburgh Makar, Alan Spence.  We’re pictured here in Saughton Park with fellow poets Gerda Stevenson and Aonghas Macneacail.  This photo was taken at the dedication of the Sri Chinmoy Peace Statue in June this year.

Very best wishes to our new Makar!

The final poetry reading to coincide with the Edinburgh Alphabet Exhibition at the City Art Centre took place today (27th September 2017).   There were lovely poems by Jenni Daiches, Dorothy Lawrenson, Patricia McCaw, LesleyMay Miller and a reprise from Jane Aldous.  We had beer & boots, the Forth Railway Bridge, makers of airships, ceramics and the Washerwomen on Calton Hill among other subjects.  The poems definitely captured the Z is for Zeitgeist!   Thanks are due to all the local poets who took part in these July and September readings in our wonderful city museums.

There are three short poetry events in September to highlight the current exhibition (Edinburgh Alphabet) and the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology: half an hour of gentle promenading round the exhibition at the City Art Centre, stopping here and there for a poem.   Gallery stools available if you need a seat.  Entrance is free and there’s a bonus – a free copy of lots of themed poems by local poets.  All welcome!

Dates and times are: Saturday 16th 11a.m – 11.30am;  Friday 22nd 11a.m – 11.30am;  Wednesday 27th 11a.m – 11.30am

The photo shows poets Jane Bonnyman, Kevin Cadwallender. Anne Connolly, Joy Hendry and Anita John with audience at the first reading.  We all enjoyed it!

 

This is a much more interesting version of my poem to celebrate 70 years of the Edinburgh International Festival!

I was delighted to be asked to write a poem to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Edinburgh International Festival and the involvement of the British Council in the special programme of events (Spirit of ’47) to mark this occasion.  The poem was recorded in the derelict (and atmospheric) Leith Theatre.  It has a wonderful acoustic.  One day … it will spring back to life!

The launch of a Scottish issue of The Café Review took place at Blackwell’s Bookshop on Friday 28th July.  The Editor of the journal, Steve Luttrell, came across from Portland, Maine for the event.  I had the joy of guest-editing the journal but the unenviable task of selecting around 30 poets to represent the contemporary poetry scene in Scotland.  Given we have so many gifted poets, I found this really difficult.  It would have taken the whole year, four issues, to do a half-decent coverage.

However, select I did, and they all sent in wonderful poems.   Nineteen of the contributors were able to attend the launch and read a poem.   Two of the three artists also attended.

The photo shows, among others, poets Jane McKie, Patricia Ace, Ron Butlin, Christie Williamson, Gerry Cambridge, Chrys Salt, Andy Jackson, Anna Crowe and Yvonne Gray.

For the first time hundreds of items from the City’s collections are on display at the City Art Centre. Many of Edinburgh’s poets have been inspired to write a poem based on one of the exhibits. There are readings in the Museum of Edinburgh, Canongate (2pm-2.30pm) on July 15th, 21st,27th and August 3rd; and later at the City Art Centre (11am-11.30am) on September 16th, 22nd and 27th. Do come along to these free events.

Here’s one of my attempts at a poem in response to an exhibit!

Scaling Parnassus

Letter from the Earl of Buchan to Robert Burns 1/2/1787

That Earl of Buchan who wrote you, Burns,
seems a bit of a blowhard: couldn’t resist
letting you know he’d ordered six copies
of your book from Lady Glencairn’s list.
His advice: Keep your Eye upon Parnassus
and drink deep of the fountains of Helicon.

He didn’t think your little doric pieces displayed
your metal; and your provincial dialect was apt
to trap your talent. He was sure English
would empower you, let you demonstrate
the extent of your genius, attempt works
of greater magnitude, variety and importance.

Did you think to ask the fine Lady Glencairn
‘what’s English for “tha man’s haverin”?’

It was a privilege to play a small part in wonderful event on the 26th June to mark the centenary of the arrival in Edinburgh in June 1917 of Wilfred Owen, a young soldier who would become perhaps the best known of the WW1 war poets. The event was a re-enactment of his first morning in Edinburgh, as described in a letter to his mother. Owen was played by David Clarke. He stepped off the Caledonian Sleeper from London just after 7am, accompanied by Peter Owen, the poet’s nephew.
After a welcome by the Lord Provost and a tune on the Wilfred Owen violin by Thoren Ferguson, I read a poem at the station war memorial. We then processed along Princes Street with pipers to the west end and returned for ‘a hearty breakfast’ at the Balmoral Hotel (formerly the ‘North British’). This was followed by a reception by the Lord Provost.

The festival LeithLate is in full swing this weekend and I am delighted that my poem Leith Swing has been used to brighten up the pavements and bring some of Leith’s amazing history to life. I was encouraged to write the poem by Councillor Gordon Munro and, with the drive of Sian Bevan (Edinburgh City of Literature), the magic that is Morvern Cunningham (LeithLate) and the artistry of Bethany Thompson (Out of the Blueprint), the project has come alive on the streets of Leith. Today we took two groups on the poem trail and everyone was able to bring some knowledge to the shared experience.
You can follow it from Custom House, down by The Shore, up Constitution Street, then through the Kirkgate to the foot of Leith Walk.

There was a wonderful event at Saughton Park on Sunday 4th June, attended by the Consuls of both India and Bangladesh. It was in honour of the great Swami Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007) who worked tirelessly for peace. A statue of Sri Chinmoy, holding a torch for peace, now stands in the park. It was created by Kaivalva Torpy. The event was organised by Alan Spence. I had the honour to participate, along with other poets Aonghas MacNeacail and Gerda Stevenson. Good news is that Saughton Park is about to be completely transformed.