Poetry.

Believe in Scotland Virtual Burns Supper

Saturday, 23 January, 2021 6.30 p..m. – 7 p.m. Start £15 – Buy tickets The Believe in Scotland Virtual Burns Supper will take place on Saturday, January 23. All proceeds will be spent on campaigning for Scottish independence – a stellar line up to entertain and enlighten you, ranging from the best Burns and folk […]

Read the full article: Believe in Scotland Virtual Burns Supper

This is not the time to be the bad angel by Jim Byrne

This is not a poem – it is just some Sunday ruminations that might become a song lyric. This is not the time to be the bad angel. this is not the time this is not the time to be the bad angel to break the rules to celebrate the dark side of life to […]

Read the full article: This is not the time to be the bad angel by Jim Byrne

Poetry by Hafsah Bashir

Hafsah Bashir – Author, Poet and Social Counsellor Rain in NewYork  It rains in NewYork  and all I crave is the scent of soil I hold the dirt and smell fruit and fortune rich and fertile it is corporeal in texture earthly in odor doesn’t smell like soil ships me aback to the dirt, I […]

Read the full article: Poetry by Hafsah Bashir

Conal Doherty – Vision and Peace Be Me

Peace be me A minute after midnight, from another world I woke The door slammed hard behind me  And the earth below me shook I saw the little boy… that night, drop a pebble in the molten light The earth below rippled hot and slow lit the world with bitter glow My eyes adjusted to […]

Read the full article: Conal Doherty – Vision and Peace Be Me

Kayus Bankole & Kei Miller: Edinburgh Book Festival

Kayus Bankole & Kei Miller: Outriders Africa from East to West  Mon 31 Aug, 2020 11:30 – 12:30 The New York Times Main Theatre Online  Free, online As part of the Book Festival’s Outriders programme exploring the shifting landscapes of contemporary Africa, hear from award-winning writer Kei Miller, whose barnstorming latest poetry collection, In Nearby Bushes, was tipped […]

Read the full article: Kayus Bankole & Kei Miller: Edinburgh Book Festival

Ghazal: the phone – poem by Rizwan Akhtar

Ghazal: the phone –for Tammara Claire Pacing up and down you looked so calm holding the phone Aren’t we connected? So, why this fuss about the phone? Eunuchs inside harems giggle running errands for lovers Now they text and delete; amor changed with the phone my ghazals are messages wrapped in all kinds of rhymes […]

Read the full article: Ghazal: the phone – poem by Rizwan Akhtar

In Times of Self-Isolation poem by Rizwan Akhtar

In Times of self-Isolation   I have just discovered that there is a world outside still a touch away from us we used to be so familiar   coming each  morning the sun bloats carelessly even shadows of all possible sizes remain alone   no one comes out to sue time for being too slow […]

Read the full article: In Times of Self-Isolation poem by Rizwan Akhtar

Corona Virus Stew – poem by Leela Soma

FiveRings at English Wikipedia / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) Recipe May 2020  Ingredients: Shopping list flour, toilet rolls, food, food, Stock pile, no space, greed, look after number 1 Stay home, save lives, save the NHS Watch TV, social distance at 2 metres, daily update Ventilators, nightingale hospital, PPE Care home deaths, scientists graphs, flatten the […]

Read the full article: Corona Virus Stew – poem by Leela Soma

Poetry by Jim Doolan

O to see again Across the fields and meadows, I cast a cautious eye, Perchance to catch a fleeting glimpse Of fairies, O so shy. For many years I’ve watched forlorn, To catch a further view Of what I saw one Summer’s morn Upon the sun-kissed dew.   Their wings were as gossamer, Their form […]

Read the full article: Poetry by Jim Doolan

National Poetry Day 2019 – Glasgow Poets

Basia Palka I am beginning to doubt the existence of Human beings, for they seem to me Not altogether there, whereas for angels I can safely say that they are either there Or not there Everyday angels Walk Byres Road With Wings Folded up Angels have no need of lips For they kiss with their […]

Read the full article: National Poetry Day 2019 – Glasgow Poets

Poetry: Lahore, I am coming by Rizwan Akhtar

Rizwan Akhtar works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of English, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his PhD in postcolonial literature from the University of Essex. His poetry has been published in the the UK and countries throughout the world including:   Canada, India, New Zealand and U.S.A. Poems from Rizwan Akhtar’s first collection ‘Lahore, […]

Read the full article: Poetry: Lahore, I am coming by Rizwan Akhtar

The Last Leaf – a poem for Autumn by Catriona Malan

Read the full article: The Last Leaf – a poem for Autumn by Catriona Malan

Leela Soma: ‘Vermillion’ a poem for Autumn

‘Autumn’ in the broadest sense. It is how Indian widows had to undergo a ritual  in olden days to give up all their ornaments, even the red dot on their forehead wear only white. Life stopped if their husbands passed away. Vermillion Leaves fall down, blown away in the autumnal blitz Gold strewn paths crunch and crackle underfoot A […]

Read the full article: Leela Soma: ‘Vermillion’ a poem for Autumn

Home Grown In Glasgow – a poem for International Women’s Day by Ruby McCann

Home Grown In Glasgow I am woman  a sister of Glasgow a pale skinned, freckled-faced Scot a she-child fae the sou’ side a native Glaswegian Mither Glasgow shaped me   I am a child of many born into this city I am Pict, I am Celt I am Irish, Scottish, and Glaswegian a city born, […]

Read the full article: Home Grown In Glasgow – a poem for International Women’s Day by Ruby McCann

Silence a poem inspired by snow by Leela Soma

Silence   And still it snows Gently fall the snowflakes Stars of  crystalline perfection Earth yielding to soft abundance Enveloped in a cocooning white silence Leela Soma, March, 2018

Read the full article: Silence a poem inspired by snow by Leela Soma

Valentine Haiku by Leela Soma

Haiku The gurgling feadan beside us We watch the landskein paint the sky Last kiss shared, she left. Leela Soma, Glasgow Writer

Read the full article: Valentine Haiku by Leela Soma

Glasgow West End: Poetry and Writing

Bohemian Chemistry by Stephen Watt Saxophone jazz swanks out from the Oran Mor barwhere toy school kids on tightrope wallstry not to fall; plucking air guitars.The instrument does not seem to matter. Streetlights spark bonfires in dying, west end heavens –a half crescent moon is fish-hooked on university buildings,brimming with assiduous students’ laughter. Traffic cones […]

Read the full article: Glasgow West End: Poetry and Writing

Out of Sight by Ciara MacLaverty: a poem about love.

Out of Sight The best thing You do for me is to let me be as I am (better than  I do for myself, I add) and when necessary you meet my what if it doesn’ts with a what if it does… You teach me more than you know- though I don’t always tell you […]

Read the full article: Out of Sight by Ciara MacLaverty: a poem about love.

Two Cities – a poem by Leela Soma

Buffalo NY and Glasgow, so much in common.  Tartan & Turmeric Two cities The two could be twinned, history so familiar Niagara River, and Erie Canal made this city As grain silos rose up in the sky, men worked hard To get the grain ashore, milled and built steel. The city of light, the Niagara […]

Read the full article: Two Cities – a poem by Leela Soma

Spoken Word Events in Glasgow

Listings Courtesy of Stephen Watt Last Monday At Rio  Cafe Rio, Hyndland Street, Partick – held on the final Monday each month (c/o Robin Cairns) 27 Hyndland Street, Glasgow, G11 5QF. 0141 334 9909 Seeds Of Thought CCA, Sauchiehall Street – held on second Saturday each month (c/o Tawona Sithole)350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD […]

Read the full article: Spoken Word Events in Glasgow

Poetry by Stephen Watt

Stephen Watt is a poet and performer from Glasgow. Stephen’s debut collection of poetry “Spit” was published by Bonacia in 2012. His poetry has been described as ‘kitchen sink film noir’ (which he admits he hasn’t a clue what it means either), punk, gothic, surrealist, and, on occasion, fantastical. Buy Spit Online Stephen will be […]

Read the full article: Poetry by Stephen Watt

Things I`ve Learned In France, Stuart Paterson

There are no taxis in Fontainebleau You gather a group of pals for a good night out in a local, buzzing tourist hotspot. Some pizza cooked in front you by a handlebar-moustachioed Italian lunatic, followed by a couple of top gigs (Cyrille Aimee & Les Doigts de l’Homme, since you asked) at a beautiful old […]

Read the full article: Things I`ve Learned In France, Stuart Paterson

Ayah a poem by Leela Soma

Ayah My child eye watches,Ayah’s Rangoli patterns bright, on the newly washed verandaThe dots threaded together like pearls of life’s experienceCultural traditions handed down in perfect symmetryThe opalescent sky shimmers anewA visual joy starts the day. My child ear hears,Her quiet, broken piece by pieceThe coffee machine, grinds beans, the aroma rich.Golden sun beats down noon […]

Read the full article: Ayah a poem by Leela Soma

Stuart Paterson, blogging from Grez sur Loing: Science fiction poetry

Techni-quarks – what are they? Where did they come from? Where are they going? Do they even exist? Is the God Particle aware of them? The answers to all of these questions can be found below by my guest blogger Techni-Quark Googolplex 23b56x000. Unfortunately, since it`s a techni-quark, which can exist at any given point […]

Read the full article: Stuart Paterson, blogging from Grez sur Loing: Science fiction poetry

Stuart Paterson, blogging from Grez sur Loing: Tuned In.

    Without wishing to sound like a Big Brother House inhabitant, I`ve been living at Hotel Chevillon for nigh on 3 weeks now. 3 weeks ago this coming Saturday, just after midday, I fell out of the Paris-Montargis train at Bouronne-Marlotte, completely unaware of what to expect, still a bit groggy from 3 days […]

Read the full article: Stuart Paterson, blogging from Grez sur Loing: Tuned In.

Poetry by Maria Venditozzi

The Gift of Tulips What I admire about tulipsis their optimism.When freshly cut,their bodies are taut, tightas a nubile girl.Heads pert, faces shyly pretty. But, after time,like most of us, they geta bit soft round the middle.Loyal leaves wrap round,close as a sari, to spareblushes about their sagging stems. Colour becomes more vibrant,lush green, cupped […]

Read the full article: Poetry by Maria Venditozzi

Stories of Love and Love Poems: No Dust Settles by Paul McCafferty

No Dust Settles by Paul McCafferty No dust settles on that place.The old place,the new one.Though trees have stretched and grass has grown around flowers openedto the sun. No other feet have walked there.Often I hear the song of wee birds that tweetabout our ancient home.I have seen so many cities come and go. Sudden […]

Read the full article: Stories of Love and Love Poems: No Dust Settles by Paul McCafferty

Love Stories and Poems by Glasgow Writers: Sound of the Wind by Paul McCafferty

Sound On The WindFor Claudia Accosta Fernanda Beccera by Paul McCafferty Sound carries on the wind.Funny thing. It gets tane upin the sail of breeze or brutal gale.The mumble of a Love you.The shout of a Fuck off.The drunken echoesof slow 3:am wanderersalways lookin for ‘Malky’.On some still afternoonsI’ve found ma self standinwi a fresh […]

Read the full article: Love Stories and Poems by Glasgow Writers: Sound of the Wind by Paul McCafferty

Tell it Slant Poetry Bookshop Glasgow

Fleming House, 134 Renfrew St, Glasgow G3 6ST Review by Pat Byrne, Book Launch, Tell it slant, 2nd June, 2014: (Review of A Bird Is Not A Stone /) A bookshop specialising in poetry in all forms and in all languages: printed, audio and visual, including pamphlets, rare, out-of-print, and second-hand. Tell it slant poetry […]

Read the full article: Tell it Slant Poetry Bookshop Glasgow

Poem: Mrs McBoo and Mrs McShoe

In a Glasgow flatIn a very nice street, Lived Mrs McBoo and Mrs McShoe. They were very tidy,And every Friday,They scrubbed and cleanedUntil the whole place gleamed.They cooked and bakedUntil their poor arms ached.Then sat back and sighedWith a cup of tea, And said to each other –“a good job done,Now let’s have some fun.” […]

Read the full article: Poem: Mrs McBoo and Mrs McShoe