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  • Poetry Ambassadors 2020
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Poetry Ambassadors 2020

Since lockdown necessarily halted our plans for physically engaging with audiences and writing communities beyond Edinburgh, the SPL chose to expand its reach digitally, whilst at the same time opening up our online platforms for new commissions. We have done this through asking four guest curators to select works by poets that they would like to share.

The guest curators – Ceitidh Campbell, Hugh McMillan, Aoife Lyall and Thomas Clark – were tasked with commissioning five poets each to produce a collection of 20 new works in total. The overarching theme is ‘vision’ – the topic of this year’s National Poetry Day in October.

Crucially, the choices made by the curators were made entirely independently without a steer from the SPL. Each curator was made aware of our commitment to equalities and inclusion and we also encouraged them to commission work that included video or audio, as we seek to grow online resources that can be accessed at home, in the classroom or on the move. As we approach National Poetry Day on 1 October, the poems will be presented daily on rotation by curator.

Ceitidh selected poets predominantly writing in Scottish Gaelic and Thomas selected writers writing in Scots. Aoife is based in Inverness, as is Ceitidh, Hugh in Dumfriesshire and Thomas in Hawick. Their inclusion recognises that there is a rich pool of talent across Scotland. If this pilot programme proves successful, we will make available opportunities for expressions of interest for the guest curator roles, particularly for poets living beyond the Central Belt. We will also continue our support for new works in Scottish Gaelic and Scots language. Next year’s theme will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Walter Scott.

Chosen by Aoife Lyall

The Aunties

They had the gift. Hidden about them

like a penny at the bottom of a pocket.
Read Lynn Valentine's poem

Bright Coast

drawn line of horizon

stretched across a bay

the gods died making
Read Martin Malone's poem

Her third eye was erased at birth

the tenderness of your skin

they can not feel

they are melanin blind
Read Raman Mundair's poem.

Dock Leaves

I’m sick of anticipating my own othering.

Thank god for places where people aren’t
Read Roshni Gallagher's poem.

(Born With) All The Happiness You Will Ever Need

an early Beatles’ lyric on a Sunday afternoon

that’s yellow as an egg-yolk

bright as a blackbird’s eye
Read Stephen Keeler's poem

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Chosen by Ceitidh Campbell

Uile Gu Lèir

Coimhead rithe.

Bheir do chridhe dhi.

Bheir do chluais dhi.
Read A C MacIlleBhàin''s poem

Fann-sholas

a’ ruighinn doras gealltanach ’s a’ fosgladh ri briseadh-dùil.
Read Christine Stone's poem

tolstAngeles

b ’àbhaist dhi fada na b ’fhaide na a’ mhòr-chuid againn a chaitheamh

san t-seòmar aice

’na cuimhne
Read Elissa Hunter-Dorans poem

Fàth

Ged is fradharc mi

chan fhaicear mi.
Read S N Jones' poem

Sùilean

Sùilean meallach air gach taobh,

cha lèir dhaibh nimh an làin
Read Sgàire Ullas' poem

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Chosen by Hugh McMillan

Dead Loss

All the trees on the triangle of the shopping centre have been

cut down and then there was no building. Lockdown.

I care. I don’t care. I drive my car
Read Bridget Khursheed's poems

Visiting Hour

The world opens its eyes,

Breathes in acrid chemical.

Light enters in a burning slingshot of negative mass and energy.
Read Chris Kelso's poem

When we meet

At the outer edge of what we call our selves

we meet; the blank page lies between.
Read Mark Thomas' poem

On Qualia in Chickens and in Anorexics

Have you ever stopped to consider the qualia of a chicken?
Read Scott Redmond's poems

L’Appel Du Vide (The Call of the Void)

The call of the void they call it,

That feverish urge to just jump,

Take a one way flight, from a dizzying height,

Sometimes it’s like falling in love.
Read Celia Donovan's poem

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Chosen by Thomas Clark

Pupil

da sunlicht strikes da back

o mi een an cuts trow da fug

o mi fitful heid an hit's a dumb dug
Read Christie Williamson

Care Hame

I gove sae lang at ae space –

whit else tae dae? –

I’m seein the white o ma ain een.
Read Gerda Stevenson's poem

Milada

Milada Horáková lost her fecht

but left her country wi love,

and her nation wi honour
Read Matthew Fitt's poems

Veesions frae a Heilan Burn, 1986

Warm June, the Simmer Solstice in Glen Gairn

Inbye a fermer’s caravan, bairns sleep

The Day’s bin theirs, dookin in peaty puils

The Nicht is mine, I steer tae hear tods creep
Read Sheena Blackhall's poem

Stetuaes

Thaim the maist idle at chynge are aye deaved

wi the biggin o idols tae staun owre the lave

o whae heized thaim up by, mebbe fine, maistly no

wi the auld warl we’re bidin in yit, faur ablo.
Read Stuart A Paterson's poem

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