Remember that ancient Chinese saying –And may you live in interesting times?It sounds like benediction, blessing,but no, it’s contrary, not what it seems.Alan Spence Interesting Times: 2021Alan Spence the fifth Makar of Edinburgh has written a poem to be buried in the ground. A time capsule poem for future generations. It was his last official commission at the end of … [Read more...] about For future generations from our here and now
Scottish Poetry Library
Kathleen Jamie: the poetry of natural resistance
When Kathleen Jamie was appointed Scotland’s Makar by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a special ceremony at the Scottish Poetry Library in August, Jamie read from her poem The Wishing Tree, which begins: I stand neither in the wilderness nor fairyland but in the fold of a green hill the tilt from one parish into another. The Makar’s appointment process involved a … [Read more...] about Kathleen Jamie: the poetry of natural resistance
A kind of healing: poetry for endings and beginnings
To be healed is not to be saved from mortality, but rather, to be released back into it: we are returned to the wild, into possibilities for ageing and change. Healings2: Kathleen Jamie Of course it’s not over yet. There is no Covid ceasefire. No generals signing treaties, no monuments, anthems or operas commemorating the millions of lives lost. Or, not yet … [Read more...] about A kind of healing: poetry for endings and beginnings
Doses of compassion from the doctor-poet
As a doctor and poet he was wary of the alleged therapeutic value of poetry. One year the slogan of National Poetry Day was ‘Transform your life with poetry’. Gael Turnbull would rather it had been ‘Transform your poetry with life’. Scottish Poetry LibraryThe poet Gael Turnbull was also a GP though he was said not to like doctoring very much (‘but it paid the bills’). He was … [Read more...] about Doses of compassion from the doctor-poet
Love and light: poetry and prose in the time of coronavirus
I still believe my eyescan hold a solar system, catch all the lightsIn so many ways, this year has been an eye opener. But how good to look outwards and upwards again with poets. The theme for #NationalPoetryDay 2020 is Vision and that encompasses a world of feeling. Confession. I’ve been finding it hard to see the light these last few weeks. In search of inspiration – … [Read more...] about Love and light: poetry and prose in the time of coronavirus