Makar heads north
SCOTLAND’s national poet will visit Shetland next month as part of a country-wide tour.
Jackie Kay, who was appointed makar earlier this year, will be in the isles between 15-19 November.
Kay will give a reading at Mareel in Lerwick on 16 November before holding a workshop at the town’s Anderson High School a day later.
She plans to visit every corner of Scotland before penning a short verse of poetry about each location.
At the end of her five-year term as national poet, Kay will unveil a lengthy poem about Scotland featuring all of the verses.
She said: “I’ve visited Shetland often; I wrote a piece for the opening of the National Theatre of Scotland that was performed on the ferry. I love the Shetland tongue.”
The visit is part of the first leg of Kay’s lengthy national tour, with the likes of Dunoon and North Uist also on the agenda.
“I’m hoping to meet other poets and poetry lovers, young and old; people who maybe have never come to a poetry reading before,” Kay added.
“I’m really very excited about visiting Uist and Lewis for the first time. Islands are like stanzas – poetry hopefully crosses land and sea.
“I hope the weather isn’t blowing up an absolute hoolie – but I like the idea of going to Shetland and Lewis and Uist at the back end of the year. You can get to know a place better in the winter. All aboard the Makarship!”
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