New Classic Poem in the SPL Reading Room!
June 19, 2009
Edinburgh-raised, future middle-aged librarian Anna Gibson discusses Scottishness and Norman MacCaig’s poem “Aunt Julia”. Read her mind here.
Ryan to Speak at Cambridge University – June 19.
June 17, 2009
America Week at Cambridge University: Will there be hotdogs?
I’ve been invited to speak at an event at Cambridge University. The event, I Hear America singing: an American Poetic Revue, is part of America Week at Clare Hall and features myself and the poet Tamar Yoseloff talking about and reading works from some of our favourite contemporary American poets. There will also be free American Wine!(But will there be hot dogs?)
The Event is Friday June 19th and starts at 8pm.
For those interested but unable to make it here is the list of poets & poems ‘ll be talking about. Most of these poems / poets can be found at the Scottish Poetry Library. Do come see me at my office hours on July 7th from 4 – 6pm if you want to find out more about the following poets / poems.
Here they are in no particular order:
* Marita Garin, Huskies
* Charles Bukowski, Trouble
* Etheridge Knight, Feeling Fucked Up (from his selected works)
* Robert Pinsky, The Want Bone
* CK Williams, Insight (from The Forward Book of Poetry 1998)
* Mark Doty, Where You Are (from Sweet Machine)
* Tom Sleigh, Newsreel (from Far Side of the Earth)
* Michael Burkard, Tooth (from Unsleeping)
* Wendell Berry, The Inlet (from Given)
*Joy Harjo, We Must Call A Meeting (from In Mad Love and War)
* Cornelius Eady, I Know (I’m Losing You)(from You Don’t Miss Your Water)
* Raymond Carver, Locking Yourself Out, Then Trying to Get Back In (from All of Us)
* Sharon Olds, The Glass, (from The Father)
* Hayden Carruth, The Quality of Wine (from Scrambled Eggs & Whiskey)
Oxfam/SPL Event at St Andrews Square on 18th June
June 16, 2009
If you’re in the poetry garden in St Andrews Square at lunchtime on Thursday the 18th and feel like listening to some poetry, then my goodness you are in luck! Oxfam Scotland and the Scottish Poetry Library are holding an afternoon reading on the subject of home, as part of Refugee Week (15th-22nd June). Bring your favourite poem about what home means to you, write a few words on the spot, or add your words to those written by members of The Welcoming, a project to welcome newcomers to Scotland.
St Andrews Square will be displaying a collection of poems about home and homecoming from Friday 12th through to Monday 29th of June.
HOT Golden Hour Summer Line-up!!
June 14, 2009
We’ve got AMAZING Golden Hours planned for June and July with a spectacular August Extravaganza. There will be reading, drinking and dancing! Have a look. You will not call me a liar.
What: The Golden Hour
Where: The Forest – 3 Bristo Place
When: June 17, July 22nd, august 19th; 8pm
How Much: Free
Booze: BYOB (please pay corkage)
June 17th
Readings:
Emily Ballou: The good poet launches her new book The Darwin Poems.
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Lauren Pope: Poems. Sass. More Poems.
Dave Coates & Fiona Morrison releasing new chapbooks.
Music:
St. Jude’s Infirmary – a rare acoustic set. A deep treat for the ears.
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Sarah J Tingle: little songs on a little guitar.
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White Heath: a blend of space-rock and tribal noise
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Visual Rubbish:
More Cartoons from Mr. Dan Meth
July 22nd
Kei Miller – An excellent reader of depth whose book, There is an Anger That Moves, is one moving collection. (recomended reading for Homecoming Scotland)
Niki Andrikopoulou – All the way from Greece with fine new words.
Russell Jones releasing his new Chapbook of sci-fi poems.
MUSIC
Gary Stewart – upbeat folk-music is relaxed, unpretentious and well-played.
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Half Sisters – joyus songs to fall in love with.
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Meursault – starry-eyed electronica with cotton-picking wreaths of banjo plucks and ukulele strums.
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Visual Rubbish:
More Cartoons from Mr. Dan Meth
August 19th — The Festival Special
Readers / Writers:
Jen Hadfield – a remarkably original and inventive poet who recently won the TS Eliot prize.
Ryan Van Winkle – poems & stories from the Reader in Residence at the Scottish Poetry Library.
Nick Holdstock – short stories which grow inside you like golden crocuses.
Ericka Duffy – hot new prose from her hot new chapbook called The Succubus!
Benjamin Morris – Poetry and life lessons from the number one gentleman.
Jason Morton – stories that can eat bricks.
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Jane Flett – seamstress of most fetching stories.
Music / Song Writers:
Billy Liar – Acoustic + infectious punk.
Jed Milroy – singer songwriter and hunter finally back from the Woods.
Withered Hand – intense, eccentric, bittersweet and very wry original songs.
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Jonny Berliner – Joyus songs about crustacaens, exhaustion, and gluecose.
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The Black Diamond Express – a rocking, hell-playing, old time string band.
Visual Amazement:
A cast of hand-drawn marionettes are magically brought to life. This is what happens at the accidental meeting of inkblots, photocopies, cardboard, angle-poise lamps, the occasional table, video technology, a laptop and a banana box.
The Cat’s Gravity by Jane Flett
June 9, 2009
Forest Publications is proud to present a beautiful new chapbook from Jane Flett.
The Cat's Gravity by Jane Flett
The Cats’ Gravity is a love story with a cast of subway cars, skinned knees, bitten lips and glitter. Published alongside a selection of poetry and with original artwork by Tom Moore.
Here’s a sample:
“Suddenly you realise that if you could dare to hold eye contact, you could begin anything. There are entire subways packed with people with whom that is all it would take; catch their eye and hold it tight in your fists, keep it. Once you have it they will follow you anywhere, perhaps leap head-first into clouds that smell of burnt hair and insanity, that curdle like plastic in flames. Can you feel the incredible surge of opportunities, multiplying ferocious and exponential like amoebas? Little wonder you cannot move: you cast your eye downward to books and metro guides, and blush. You realise in an hour you could be anywhere, in the midst of anything. This is so tempting to set in motion, like spitting off bridges or spilling of secrets, you want to shove things into the path of gravity and watch them fall, inexorably; splat.”
Available to buy from the Forest Café (3 Bristo Place) and Word Power Books (43-45 West Nicholson Street), and online at Amazon.co.uk, all for a bargainous £2!
Isbn: 978 0 9556456 6 2
New classic poem discussion in the SPL Reading Room
June 8, 2009
Scottish-based poet Jacob Polley waxes romantic on John Keats’ sonnet, “On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer” at the SPL‘s Reading Room. Read his brain-weavings here.
Nothing But The Poem – Free – June 9th
June 4, 2009
Fancy a poetry chat? Come along to Nothing But The Poem: A relaxed and informal way to meet and discuss poems.
Where: Edinburgh Central Library, George IV Bridge.
When: 6.30pm on June 9th, July 8th & September 17th.
How Much: Free Free Free!
Moderated by ECL / SPL Reader-in-Residence Ryan Van Winkle.
What is it?
* We read a poem
* We discuss the poem
* Only the poem we’ve read.
* No Jargon
* No experience needed
* Nothing to fear
* Nothing but the poem.
There’s a little sample of what a NBTP session is like here.
Between The Forest / Police Box Stage and The Beer Tent we’ll have a Scottish Poetry Library Stall along with workshop space, a ‘zine stall and loads of brilliant live music from The Forest / Police Box Stage.
We’ve got two exciting poetic adventures for you to experience:
From 2pm on Saturday we’ve got a Poetry Postcard & Poster Making workshop.
* We’ll provide the words (a la magnetic poetry) and help you screen print your own original poetry poster or post card. Our Screen Printing Expert will be on hand to help you make everything look beautiful.
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If you don’t feel like making your own poem some friends and I will be hanging out with copies of our favourite poems to pass on along with other free goodies. The people (and poems) will change so come early and come often.
Details of bands and DJs
Saturday 6th:
Noon – The Tuberians – a mystical journey of sound exploration from the undiscovered land of Tuberia.
12.45 – Hailey Beavis & The Byrons – a double threat of dazzling songwriting, punk fury and experimental pop.
1.45 – Ruby and The Emeralds – wrap your entire being within a cosmic layer of sassy mayhem.
2.30 – The Black Diamond Express – a rocking, hell-playing, old time string band.
3.15 – Meursault – starry-eyed electronica with cotton-picking wreaths of banjo plucks and ukulele strums.
4.15 – William Douglas and the Wheel – Punk Gospel with a twist of Rock ‘n’ Roll splendour.
5pm – Darkness – The Exploading DJ with bells, whistles, and Special Guests!
The Meadows Festival --- See You There!
Sunday 7th:
Noon – Chandra + The Forest Chior – The freelance folk adventurer starts the day with the blazing, amazing Forest Chior!
1pm – White Heath – a blend of space-rock and tribal noise.
2pm – Jesus H. Foxx – both modest and wrong.
3pm – FoxGang – wickedly satirical lyrics with an irresistible party vibe, that’ll flash to mid-July with only a tinge of sangria-soaked regret.
4pm – Punch and the Apostles – Wild, frenetic, yet underpinned by a probing sense of existential doubt.
5pm – Exhaustion – Jiggery Fuckery – Sun-soaked lashings of DJ juice!
Office Hours at the SPL – June 2nd 4pm-6pm
May 29, 2009
If anyone would like to have a sit-down in the Scottish Poetry Library with me – I have my regular office hours on Tuesday the 2nd of June. I’ll be in the poetry library from 4 – 6 and will be available to talk about poems, poetry, the library, future events, They Might Be Giants, writing or whatever. Please just pop by if you fancy a chat or a browse through the aisles with a little help from me.
For your diary: I’ll be in the SPL from 4 – 6 on the first Tuesday of every month so feel free to come down for a chat and biscuits.
Martin McKenna on the poem “Un Coup de Des”
May 21, 2009
The artist, Martin McKenna discusses the classic poem, “Un Coup de Des” (“A Throw of the Dice”) by Stéphane Mallarmé in the SPL‘s Reading Room.
