Home » Blog: Balloch Open Mic » Balloch Open Mic Blog: Dora Wright

Balloch Open Mic Blog: Dora Wright

Dora Wright has been a stalwart supporter of the Open Mic at the Balloch House Hotel from the beginning. She is also a member of the Leven Litts and Clydebank groups of writers.

Mary Irvine’s Interview with Dora

When did you start writing Poetry?

I started writing poetry after a bad fall, when I fell off a stool in the kitchen and fractured my back and wrist, in two places. At that time I painted in oils but wasn’t able to do that for quite a few months. I met an old friend who mentioned she wrote poetry and used to be in a group. Why didn’t I give it a try? So I did. That was 14 years ago.

Do you have a favourite poet and why?

I don’t have a favourite poet as such but I do like Pam Ayre’s sense of humour. Mostly I like a mix of poetry.
I love Edwin Morgan’s “Strawberries” and “The Last Cigarette”. I also like Phillip Larkin’s “This be the Verse” and John Cooper Clark’s “Pies” and of course I love so many of Robert Burns.

What inspires you to produce a particular poem?

I wrote this poem about a song you don’t hear much now. But, in my youth, every New Year’s Eve most families would be turned in to the ‘White Heather Club’ before “The Bells”. When Moira Anderson sang “My Ain Folk” it would reduce the nation to tears. It brings back such happy memories of being a family and counting ones blessings

.

Wee Moira

We Moira wis the best o’ a’
at singin’ oot that song sae braw
People came frae miles aroon
tae hear her beltin’ oot that tune
She sang it maist on New Year’s Eve
oh whit a bonnie web she’d weave
she brought a tear tae every eye
frae Elgin tae the Isle o’ Skye
She sang o’ mist abune the brae
an’ a’ aboot a wee hoose tae
she sang o’ loved ones far away
remembered fondly every day
Aye Moira brought them a’ the gither
wae a song o’ hame an’ heather
for jist a while on New Years Eve
a’ ther grief behind they’d leave
they sat so still and no one spoke
till Moira finished

My Ain Folk.”

Why did you decide to publish a book?

I decided it was time to publish some of my poems as there are so many of them. As I am getting on in years (Ahem!) I thought if I don’t get them into print I’ll be the only one that’s read them. I also thought it would be nice for my family to get to know a little more about me. And some of my poems did give them a wee shock…lol.*

Baked to perfection

On the floor next to my clothes
his baker’s white’s lie discarded
our passions rise without the need for yeast
proving by the moment
shapes and forms
merging into one

His hands leave a trace of flour
where he touches me
my face, my neck, my shoulders
later I shall look at them
and remember how skilful he was
a master of his craft

Do you ever write prose?

Yes, I do write prose too but I suppose I think in rhyme. I have written stories, too. In fact I should write more prose.

What do you like (or not) about the open mic?

I love the open Mic, I like hearing what other people have written and it’s nice when we have a visiting guest. I quite like performing too. It was daunting at first but I’m getting used to it.

Dora’s book, ‘The Sliding Door’, is available from Amazon, paperback £7, Kindle £2

Mary Irvine, September, 2021

Balloch House Hotel Open Mic is back ‘live’, the first Monday of the month, 7 pm till finish! A Zoom Open Mic is being held on the second Monday of the month for anyone who can’t attend the live event.

This section: Blog: Balloch Open Mic, Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events, Pat's Home Page Blog