Tag: poetry

New quotes unveiled on the Parliament’s Canongate Wall  

Quotes from three of Scotland’s most well-known poets have been unveiled on the Scottish Parliament’s Canongate Wall on the Royal Mile.  

Earlier this year, over 5,000 public votes were cast from people all over Scotland who chose which works by previous Scots Makars Liz Lochhead, Jackie Kay and Kathleen Jamie should feature.

The winning quotations were sent to Perthshire-based stone carver Gillian Forbes, assisted by apprentice Cameron Wallace, who carried out the letter-cutting process for the new quotes as well as many of the original ones already featured. 

In total 29 quotations now feature on the Canongate Wall from Scottish writers and thinkers as well as popular proverbs and poems which are letter-cut into stones sourced from across Scotland. The Wall was designed by artist Soraya Smithson which pays tribute to the design ideas of Holyrood lead architect Enric Miralles.   

The winning quotations are: 

Liz Lochhead

this
our one small country… 
our one, wondrous, spinning, dear green place. 
What shall we build of it, together 
in this our one small time and space? 

– from Grace, A Handsel, New & Collected Poems, 2012

Stone cut into Achnaba Schist from Lochgilphead. 

Jackie Kay

Where do you come from?
‘Here,’ I said, ‘Here. These parts.’

– from In my country, Darling: New & Selected Poems, 2007

Stone cut into Ailsa Craig Granite from Ayrshire.

Kathleen Jamie

Be brave: 
by the weird-song in the dark you’ll find your way. 

– from The Storm, The Bonniest Companie, 2015

Stone cut into Dalbeattie Granite from Dumfriesshire.

Presiding Officer Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP said: “Adding new quotations onto one of Scotland’s most prominent public sculptures is a celebration of the talent and skill of women who are performing at the very top of their professions. 

“The inspirational words of our three poets – Liz Lochhead, Jackie Kay and Kathleen Jamie – combine with the skill of stone carver Gillian Forbes, making these quotes something of real beauty using stone from across Scotland. 

“This is only possible thanks to the original vision of Enric Miralles and artist Soraya Smithson, who designed the wall as a permanent reminder of our rich cultural heritage.

“I’m proud to unveil these new quotes, which ensure that this piece of living public sculpture reflects the writing talent we have in Scotland today.”   

Liz Lochhead, Makar from 2011 to 2016, said: “It’s a big part of my life, being a Scot, being somebody who has a parliament, and getting some of my words on the walls here, it’s fantastic.”

Jackie Kay, Makar from 2016 to 2021, said: “It’s a huge honour and so extraordinary to be carved into stone. 

“It’s so strange to think of your words surviving you – but in a sense, that’s every writer’s dream.”

Kathleen Jamie, Makar from 2021 to 2024, said: “Poetry is very democratic. It’s available to anybody – through libraries, through memory.

“It’s free, and it’s absolutely of our culture.” 

Celebration honours winners of Edinburgh 900 writing competitions

A celebratory reception was held on Thursday at the City Chambers to honour the winners of two Edinburgh 900 themed writing competitions.

Hosted by the Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, the event recognised the creativity and talent of local writers who submitted original works inspired by Edinburgh’s remarkable nine-century history.

The two featured competitions included the Green Pencil Award 2024, aimed at school-aged children (P4 to S3) attending Edinburgh schools or home-educated in the city, and a city-wide poetry writing competition organised through Edinburgh’s library network, open to adult residents.

The Edinburgh 900 initiative commemorates 900 years since the Royal Burgh was established by King David I around 1124. In honour of this historic milestone, residents were invited to share their reflections, memories, and love for Scotland’s capital through poetry and storytelling.

Both competitions highlighted Edinburgh’s rich heritage, cultural vibrancy, and strong community spirit. Six winning entries from the poetry competition will be immortalised on exclusive bookmarks to be distributed across Council-run libraries throughout the city.

The winning poets will also be filmed reciting their work, with the recordings shared across the Council’s social media channels and preserved as part of the Edinburgh 900 archive for future generations.

The winners are: Shasta Hanif Ali, Eric Robinson, Rory Allison, Tricia Ronaldson and Suzanne Smith.

The Green Pencil Award encouraged young people to express their voices creatively in written form, with entries limited to one side of A4 and open to stories or poems in any style.

Twenty finalists were selected, with one crowned the overall winner and presented with the prestigious Green Pencil Award trophy and winner’s medal.

The Green Pencil was awarded to Preston Street Primary 7 pupil Ema Mene for her poem “To Edinburgh She Went” (pictured top).

Highly commended: Isobel Rhys-Davies, Cargilfield School (P6); Marcus Osborne, Bruntsfield Primary School (P6B); and Sofia Brown, James Gillespie’s High School (S1).

The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge praised all entrants for their enthusiasm and passion: “Creative writing ensures our stories are told and remembered. Edinburgh 900 is not only a celebration of the past but also a platform to inspire the future. These competitions show how deeply people care about the city and its legacy. 

“Edinburgh has long been a city where literature thrives, as we mark 900 years these wonderful written pieces provide another meaningful way to honour the city’s legacy through the words of its people. My congratulations to our fantastic winners.”

The Great Edinburgh May Day Cabaret

THURSDAY 1st MAY at the WAVERLEY BAR

The Great Edinburgh May Day Cabaret returns for the third year running. There’ll be comedy, music and poetry to celebrate International Workers’ Day.

Compered by Jim Monaghan, and featuring a fantastic line-up of poetry from Stirling Makar, Kevin P Gilday, comedy from Vladimir McTavish and music from Calum Baird, Elsie McDonald and award-winning English folk-punk, Joe Solo.

Supported by Fair Pley, The STUC, Allan McDougall Solicitors and The Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders May Day Committee.

Doors open 7:30pm.

Scotland’s first Gaelic Poetry Path launches on the Isle of Skye

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, has launched Scotland’s first-ever Gaelic Poetry Path. Slighe nam Bàrd will provide a poetic pathway around the Isle of Skye, aiming to introduce local, national, and international visitors to a taste of Gaelic heritage, song, and poetry. 

From the 21st of March (World Poetry Day), tourists will be able to collect a free Slighe nam Bàrd – Poetry Paths pamphlet and accompanying map from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, located in Sleat in the Isle of Skye.*

The pamphlet will provide a detailed guide around Skye’s stunning landscape, stopping at seven major locations connected to a Gaelic song or poem. A QR code for each location provides a recording of the poem/song to enable people to listen to the Gaelic audio in the environment that inspired the creative piece.

SMO Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Skye, April 2023

Abigail Burnyeat, Head of Research at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture: “People often come to Skye for its beautiful scenery, but the aim of Slighe nam Bàrd is to showcase the connection between Gaelic culture and Skye’s mesmerising landscape.

“Through Slighe nam Bàrd, tourists will be able to engage with the landscape whilst listening to Gaelic poems and songs that add to our understanding of the locations on the trail, giving people an opportunity to experience for themselves the Gaelic culture and history at the heart of the Isle of Skye.”

Meg Bateman, Professor in Gaelic Language and Culture at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Bàrd a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich: “Slighe nam Bàrd provides a one-day poetic road-trip around the Isle of Skye, allowing people to engage with local Gaelic poetry whilst immersed in the Skye landscape.

“The pathway consists of seven poems/songs, each one carefully chosen to represent a range of locations, centuries, styles, and subjects to give a full flavour of Skye’s poetic Gaelic landscape.

“From Somhairle MacGill-Eain to Màiri Mhòr nan Òran, the pathway will guide people from the south of the island to the very north, discovering Gaelic poetry along the way.”

Chris Taylor, VisitScotland Regional Destination Development Director, said: “Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Poetry Path provides a unique way to tell Skye and Scotland’s story and is an immersive entry-point for visitors to experience the Gaelic language.

“We know that visitors, especially international, think Gaelic enhances their holiday. With that in mind, Slighe nam Bàrd may even inspire them to try out a course at Scotland’s National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture.

“At VisitScotland we recognise that Gaelic is an integral part of Scotland’s heritage, identity, and culture. It can provide an extra layer to the authentic Scottish experience and to our many visitors.”

The Slighe nam Bàrd project was funded by: the University of the Highlands and Islands KE/ Innovation Challenge Fund.

Scots charity calls on Edinburgh’s young poets for national campaign

COMMUNITIES across Scotland are being invited to make a visible show of support for LGBTQ+ young people this Purple Friday.

Taking place on February 28th, Purple Friday encourages people to celebrate the spirit of the LGBTQ+ community and allies by wearing purple, raising funds, and participating in activities celebrating the resilience, creativity and diversity of Scotland’s LGBTQ+ youth.

This year’s theme, “Nothing Rhymes with Purple,” offers a poetic twist, encouraging participants to channel their creativity through the written word.

Budding poets can submit their work for the charity’s first-ever anthology, with selected entries seeing their works published to raise vital funds for LGBTQ+ services.

Celebrating its 10th year, the LGBT Youth Scotland awareness day, with the support of Lauren Mayberry from CHVRCHES, is on a mission to raise £20,000 for LGBTQ+ young people.

Lauren, the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed band CHVRCHES and long-time ally of the LGBTQ+ community, is among the high-profile supporters lending their voice to the cause. She said: “As someone who strives to be a visible and vocal supporter of the community, I’m thrilled to support Purple Friday and the incredible work that LGBT Youth Scotland do.

“This initiative is an opportunity for young people to live proudly as their authentic selves and for communities across Scotland to show they care. It’s so important to stand together and celebrate diversity.”

The poetry submissions form part of a wider campaign to amplify LGBTQ+ voices, especially those of young people aged 13–25, and to raise funds for life-saving services provided by LGBT Youth Scotland.

Mhairi Crawford, Chief Executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, added: “Visibility is life-changing for LGBTQ+ young people. When they see allies stand up for them, it builds confidence and fosters more inclusive, safer communities.

“This Purple Friday, we’re asking people to embrace creativity – whether it’s by writing a poem, hosting an event, or simply wearing purple.

“Purple Friday isn’t just a fundraising day – it’s a movement for change. Every pound raised helps us break down barriers, giving LGBTQ+ young people the opportunity to thrive.

“Together, we can ensure LGBTQ+ young people feel seen, supported, and valued.”

Selected poems will feature in the “Nothing Rhymes with Purple” anthology, a professionally published collection celebrating the richness and resilience of Scotland’s LGBTQ+ community.

Proceeds will support LGBT Youth Scotland’s ongoing work, including youth groups, mental health services and advocacy initiatives.

Community events are also at the heart of Purple Friday. Schools, workplaces, and organisations are encouraged to host their own poetry nights, wear purple, and raise funds to support LGBTQ+ equality.

Purple Friday also takes place during LGBT History Month, offering a platform to reflect on progress while addressing ongoing challenges. With young LGBTQ+ people still facing significant barriers, particularly trans youth in a hostile media climate, public support is more vital than ever.

LGBT Youth Scotland is calling on schools, businesses, and individuals across Scotland to get involved and make this year’s Purple Friday the most impactful yet.

LGBT Youth Scotland is Scotland’s national charity for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning and Intersex (LGBTQ+) young people aged 13-25.

LGBTQ+ young people face unique and additional barriers to realising their potential, and LGBT Youth Scotland collaborates with young people to remove those barriers, working with them individually and amplifying their collective voices to influence change.

For more information on Purple Friday 2025, to submit your poem, or to find inspiration for community events, visit lgbtyouth.org.uk/purplefriday

For more information on LGBT Youth Scotland, visit: https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/

Celebrating Edinburgh’s rich history through storytelling

As part of National Storytelling Week, Edinburgh 900 invites people and communities to share their connection with the capital city.

As part of National Storytelling Week, the Edinburgh 900 programme invites individuals, communities, and historians to share and explore their unique connections to the city’s fascinating past.

The Edinburgh and Scottish Collection at Central Library boasts one of the world’s largest and most unique collections of materials on Edinburgh, including rare books, maps, prints, photographs, and more.

Through a dedicated website users can access images and maps from the collection online. Our Town Stories features curated stories across various themes and partners with organisations to highlight Edinburgh’s rich and diverse past.

As part of the Edinburgh 900 celebrations, Our Town Stories offers an engaging and interactive journey through the city’s heritage with dynamic maps and timelines. These tools highlight significant objects, photographs, and people from the collections of Libraries, Archives, Archaeology Services, and Museums and Galleries. Over the coming months, more Edinburgh 900 themed captivating stories will be unveiled that span the centuries, offering new insights into Edinburgh’s evolution from the 1100s to the modern-day.

Some highlights already published include:

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, said: “These stories delve into the pivotal moments in Edinburgh’s history, shedding light on the people, places, and events that have helped shape our extraordinary city.

“Our Town Stories makes exploring Edinburgh’s past easy—its interactive map brings the city’s rich history to life with images and maps from our collections. Whether you’re zooming in on a familiar street or discovering hidden corners of the city, this tool connects you with Edinburgh’s heritage in an accessible way.

“If you’re inspired and have a personal, historical, or cultural story to share that could enhance our understanding of Edinburgh’s past, we’d love to hear from you. Your contribution could become part of our ongoing narrative, helping to celebrate the city’s identity, creativity, and resilience, ensuring that Edinburgh’s 900-year story is preserved for future generations.”

For more information or to contribute your story, please get in touch at informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk 

You can also join the Edinburgh Collected community archive and contribute your pictures and memories to help shape the city’s collective history.

Burns Night Community Ceilidh: Tickets go on sale tomorrow

Coming soon! Our 11th Annual Burns Night Community Ceilidh!

Saturday 25th January 5-8.30 at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre.

Tickets on sale from tomorrow – Monday 13th January.

With Pilton Community Health Project 

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre 

Tinderbox Collective and many more..

Dance adaptation of Hamish Henderson’s poetry at the Pomegranates Festival

ELEGIES – Saturday 27 April, 7.30pm 
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street

Hamish Henderson (1919-2002), was a soldier-poet and scholar-folk revivalist. Elegies is his first-hand account from the North African desert military campaign for which he won the Somerset Maugham Award.

His dedication of the book: “for our own and the others” sets the story within our own common bonds, fragility and humanity, in the setting of the ‘deadlands’ of Cyrenaica (modern-day Libya). The Elegies also reveal the shared helplessness of those loved ones at home waiting, praying – and dancing.

This production is led by a duo of dancers and choreographers Helen Gould and George Adams who together with dancers Nicola Thomson, Edwin Wen and Aimee Williamson embody and represent the characters from the ten elegies set both in the desert and the dance hall by using ceilidh, jive, swing and lindy hop – the popular social dance culture of the 1940s. 

Through their movement directorship Gould and Adams weave into the dance, the reading of the Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica by spoken word artists Morag Anderson and Stephen Watt; and specially composed and newly arranged trad music and song by Cera Impala. 

Wendy Timmons and Iliyana Nedkova, Elegies co-curators and producers from Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland said: “Elegies is a dance poem of serious reflection – a lament for all lives lost not only in WWII but in our world of conflicts, oppression and inequality.

“We were delighted by the positive reaction we received when it was first performed on Remembrance Day last year, and very proud of everyone who has worked with us on this revised adaptation as part of this year’s Pomegranates Festival.”

Elegies was originally commissioned for the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2023, then extended and revised for Pomegranates Festival 2024. 

Trad Dance Session

There will be a post-performance lindy hop social dance session, led and accompanied by Pomegranates 2024 resident musicians from the Castle Rock Jazz Band, in the main atrium at the Scottish Storytellling Centre. All welcome. Tickets are Pay What You Can £5, £10 or £15 and available through the Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office here

John Cooper Clarke comes to Edinburgh for 2024 National Tour

  • John Cooper Clarke celebrates 50 years in showbiz with the Get Him While He’s Alive Tour 
  • Tour coming to Queens Hall in Edinburgh on 12th & 13th April 2024
  • John Cooper Clarke released brand new poetry collection -”What” published by Picador on 8th Feb 2024

Literary phenomenon John Cooper Clarke is back and better than ever, returning with a brand new tour and poetry collection this 2024. John will be performing at Queens Hall in Edinburgh on 12th & 13th April 2024. 

John’s new show will take fans on a completely one-of-a-kind journey through poetry and comedy. John’s live touring career has gone from strength to strength, with John recently returning from an epic North America tour in September 2023.

This year he’s back on home turf, as he continues to sell out theatres and halls across the UK, with a stretch of shows in Ireland also recently added. 

It’s a chance to see one of the world’s most important and entertaining spoken word artists at his bold and brilliant best. 

‘WHAT’ is the new collection from Britain’s “Poet Laureate of Punk” and will be published on 8th February to coincide with John’s 2024 national theatre tour celebrating 50 years of showbiz.

Venues for the “Get Him While He’s Alive” tour include the Edinburgh Queens Hall, a reunion show with very special guest Linton Kwesi Johnson at the London Palladium and three nights at Salford’s Lowry Theatre.

John’s new collection “What”, which will be published by Picador, is full of John’s much-loved sardonic wit and hilarious ponderings on modern life and follows on from John’s bestselling  The Luckiest Guy Alive. 

The original people’s poet, John’s cultural influence spans literature, music, and fashion, and his unique poetry and delivery style transcends generations. 

From creating some of the most iconic poetry of the modern era, including  “I Wanna Be Yours” (recently celebrating over a billion streams in its incarnation as a hit record by the Arctic Monkeys) to sharing his life story through his 120k selling memoir of the same name, John is still as relevant as he was when he shot to prominence in the 1970s.” 

Tickets for the Get Him Whilst He’s Alive Tour are available from https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/events/detail/dr-john-cooper-clarke or
www.johncooperclarke.com.

Picador will publish What on 8th February 2024 priced £16.99

BAFTA award-winning writer Henry Normal & Internet sensation, poet & author Brian Bilston announce Edinburgh show

  • BAFTA award-winning writer and producer turned poet Henry Normal teams up with internet sensation, poet and author Brian Bilston
  • The pair announce Scottish tour – coming to Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on 9th April
  • Henry’s brand new poetry collection ‘A Moonless Night’ released 14th February 2024  
  • Brian Bilston’s best selling collection ‘Days Like These’ published in paperback on 9th November 2023

BBC Radio 4 regular Henry Normal and literary enigma Brian Bilston have announced a brand new Scottish tour together for 2024.  Following sell out shows in 2023 for both poets, the pair will be coming to Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on 9th April, 

Henry and Brian met at the Laugharne Festival and performed together for the first time in Morecambe last October. The collaboration has been so popular that the two poets are bringing their new shows together for the first time to theatres in Scotland with shows in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Stirling and Dundee.

Brian Bilston is often described as the “Banksy of poetry” – making the artform accessible to all and maintaining a mysterious anonymity. He has cultivated a large and loyal following on social media and has become truly beloved by his 500,000 or so fans. Despite his popularity Brian has managed to keep his identity hidden so his live show represents an intriguing opportunity to hear Brian’s work read live by the enigma himself. Expect the funny, irreverent and powerful poetry that has made Brian an internet sensation. 

Henry has toured with his ever-evolving poetry show constantly since retiring from TV and Film production. In his own distinctive style, Henry’s show finds fun in the familiar, humour in the everyday and poignancy in the pitfalls of modern life. It is a show about love, life and family that is as deeply moving as it is funny and often both at the same time.  Henry has 15 poetry books in print including the latest collection “A Moonless Night’ out on Valentine’s day being 14th Feb 2024.

Henry’s longstanding BBC Radio 4 series ‘A Normal..” continues to go from strength to strength with ‘A Normal Journey’  chosen as pick of the week over the Christmas period. As co-creator of The Royle Family, he also appeared in the BBC documentary celebrating the life of Caroline Aherne on Christmas Day.

The evening represents a chance to see two brilliant poets for a very special night of life affirming poetry, marvellous escapism and lots of laughter.