Aiblins is a selection of new Scottish political poetry. The poems in this collection reflect the tumultuous, rapidly evolving nature of contemporary Scottish politics. They also stand as a testament to the deep engagements poets are making with the political landscape today, not only by reflecting on current events through their work but also by issuing provocations which reframe and challenge conventional assumptions.
Katie Ailes is a poet and scholar based in Glasgow. In 2014-15 she completed an MRes in English at the University of Strathclyde on a US-UK Fulbright Award, focusing on poetry written for the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. In 2015 she co-organised the Poetic Politics conference at the National Library of Scotland. She is now pursuing her PHD at Strathclyde researching contemporary UK performance poetry. An active spoken word artist, Katie performs and organises with the Scottish collective Loud Poets. She is also a Clydebuilt poet (2015-16), co-editor of Quotidian literary magazine and co-pilot of the Scottish Poetry Library Ambassadors programme.
Sarah Paterson Paterson is in her third and final year of a PhD in Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow, thanks to the William Georgetti Scholarship. Originally from Dunedin, New Zealand, her poetry has appeared in New Zealand publications including Critic, Takahe and Deep South of which she was also the editor, and Scottish publications such as Quaich and Quotidian. In 2015 she was the co-organiser of the Poetic Politics conference.
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Introduction Katie Ailes and Sarah Paterson
Aiblins Stewart Sanderson
's Mathaid, translated Calum L Macleoid
Territory AC Clarke
A Highland Favour Brian Johnstone
Overheard on a bus in Aberdeen Mandy Macdonald
Family History: The Accent Hilary Birch
Ciocharan Marcas Mac an Tuairneir
Picture of Girl and Small Boy (Gaza, 2014) Marjorie Lotfi Gill
Vatersay 1853/ Kos 2015 Hugh McMillan
Bhatarsaigh 1853/ Kos 2015 translated Calum L MacLeoid
Bethlehem-Glasgow Irene Hossack
Viewpoint AC Clarke
Sealladh, translated Calum L MacLeoid
Old School Maps Brian Johnstone
Cuimhneachadh Ceud Bliadhna o Mhurt James Connolly Greg MacThomais
Jackie's Ma Auntie Valerie Wilson
Korean Letters David Cameron
Four Allegories of Independence Brian Johnstone
September 2014 Hugh McMillan
Friday the Nineteenth Katy Ewing
Ouroboros Jane Frank
Hauntology Roddy Shippin
leave behind Alec Finlay
Let Truth Tell Itself Jim Carruth
Biography of a Cow Russell Jones
Summerisle Hugh McMillan
Breath of the Treemen Matthew Macdonald
The Town Chris Boyland
To Mohammed Henry Bell
Divali in Kessock Arun Sood
Autumn in Texas Nancy
Somerville
Squaring the Circle Finola Scott
Lochlannach Calum L MacLeoid
Thin Ice John Bolland
The Sweet Science Ross Wilson
Return Finola Scott
Chioroscuro Ross Wilson
All the Verbs from Glasgow City Council's New Proposed Management Rules Regulating Public Parks... Harry Giles
The Chair Chris Boyland
Solidarity William Bonar
Hid Nancy Somerville
Scottish Election Tongue Twister Henry Bell
The Exceptionals David Forrest
A Voter's Reflections in Rhyme Calum Rodger
And So the People Spoke Anita John
Searmonaiche Tadhalach Greg MacThomais
Highland Disunion Arun Sood
Dealachadh Gaidhealach, translated Calum L MacLeoid
Crossing the Road Gavin Cruikshank
Alice Coy Told Me How Henry Bell
For Refuge Pippa Little
Slack Water Marjorie Lotfi Gill
Arcadia Rona Fitzgerald
Poetry Reading, Edinburgh, 1960 Stewart Sanderson
Afterword: Bardic Voice Robert Crawford
Citations
Contributors