The Makar Abroad

“The Makar goes abroad because the remit includes connecting with the cultural life and the poets of other countries, 

“Poetry has always been massively international, and internationalist, regardless of political affiliations. We poets can make non-political connections. There are diplomats for politics. We’re diplomats for poetry, for literature, for humanity and culture.”

Kathleen Jamie has been Scotland’s Makar for a little bit over a year. As part of the role, she undertakes visits to other countries, and takes part in events, mixing with fellow poets, musicians, policymakers and executives. 

In September, she went to the Músaem Litríochta na hÉireann (Museum of Literature in Dublin) to take part in a series of readings and discussion with some of the luminaries of Scottish and Irish letters.

Ireland has been vital to the her development, as Kathleen explains. 

“Scots and Irish are big pals poetically speaking, and have been forever. 

“I grew up finding my feet as a poet with a marvellous generation of Irish poets available to me. And women there were coming into voice at the same time. We had work of immense integrity and authority and craft coming from Ireland, so it was always there in the corner of your eye. 

Possibly even more than the English tradition, we were mindful of the Irish. And of course we’re very pally with them.” 

Funnily enough, going abroad brought Kathleen into contact in person for the first time with a fellow Scottish poet Leyla Josephine. And of course she loved the music of Sgiathanach small-pipe player Brìghde Chaimbeul who also performed on the night. 

Kathleen’s mission as Makar has always been to share the limelight. So we’ll end this blog with a poem not from Kathleen, but from Leyla Josephine. 

Good with our hands
 
We are welded from workers
with a sturdy way of life
metals and bolt
then planes and boats
now tech and innovation.
Blue and white
men and women
who are good with their hands–
my country’s pride.
There are factories tattooed
across our lands
hidden in the hills.
High-tech airborne radar
advanced lasers and electro-optic systems
made in Scotland but exported
                                                          worldwide.
Scottish fingers fiddle to find solutions.
Lanyards bouncing around neck
like nooses.
They eat their lunches
nonplussed, in the cafeteria
no mutter
of Yemen,
of Syria.
No sign of Nae Pasaran.
Drones, warplanes, missiles
made behind wide smiles
warm accents and cartoon thistles.
My country is good with their hands.