Scottish Poetry Library
LightNews LightNews
banner
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
Scottish Poetry Library
@byleaveswelive.bsky.social
3.9K followers 1.5K following 460 posts
The Scottish Poetry Library is Scotland's number one poetry resource both online and in bricks and mortar. We're at 5 Crichton's Close, Edinburgh and we're open to the public Monday-Thursday 10am-3pm. Our online HQ is www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
Posts Replies Media Videos
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
The 2026 Saltire Book Awards Best Poetry Collection longlist and the 2026 T S Eliot Poetry Award Best Poetry Collection shortlist.

And ne'er the twain shall meet

#TSEliot
October 7, 2026 at 9:29 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
In the latest edition of our Nothing But The Poem podcast resident host Samuel Tongue takes an exploratory dive into 2 extraordinary poems by Indian poet Tishani Doshi

* Some Words to the Close and Holy Darkness

* Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/noth...
October 6, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Reposted by Scottish Poetry Library
ellenforkin.bsky.social
Happy #NationalPoetryDay everyone! I want to celebrate @byleaveswelive.bsky.social - I love discovering gems on their website and listening to their Nothing But The Poem podcast. Here are some poems below that I adore… www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
Scottish Poetry Library
Books and resources in Scotland's national poetry library for Burns Night, Robert Burns and the best Scottish poets and poems about Scotland
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
October 1, 2026 at 7:19 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
For #NationalPoetryDay we've commissioned 5 of Scotland's Young Makars to create new work on the theme of The Wonder of Nature. They collaborated on reading a new poem by Leah Sinforiana as well as reading a new individual piece of their own. #NPD26
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/national-poe...
National Poetry Day 2026: Wonder
For National Poetry Day 2026 (Thursday 1 October), the Scottish Poetry Library has teamed up with Brand Scotland to bring you six short poetry films by contemporary writers, all of whom have been part...
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
October 1, 2026 at 8:58 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
IAN HAMILTON FINLAY
concrete as an ART form

Film and Live Performance
Wed 21st Oct,
Biggar Corn Exchange
September 29, 2026 at 8:39 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
The monthly Scottish Poetry Library newsletter will be delivered to Inboxes this afternoon. There's still time to sign up to get the September edition.

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/newsletter/

Today is the centenary of a certain legend so there's a jazzy feel to this one. #Trane100
September 23, 2026 at 11:02 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
The Scotsman's Poem of the Week (19th Sept 26) is 'Trains' by Rob A Mackenzie
September 21, 2026 at 12:32 PM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
The three poetry films discussed are based on poems by e e cummings, WB Yeats and John Glenday. Links to the films are on the SPL website.
September 17, 2026 at 1:48 PM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
🎙️ NEW POETRY PODCAST

The second episode of Nothing But The Film Poem podcast where @samueltongue.bsky.social from the SPL chats with poetry filmmaker Steve Smart @duntruner.bsky.social about 3 poetry films that caught their attention.

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/noth...
Nothing But The Film Poem - Episode 2
The second episode of Nothing But The Film Poem podcast where Sam Tongue from the SPL chats with poetry filmmaker Steve Smart about 3 poetry films that caught their attention.
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
September 16, 2026 at 9:37 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
The Scottish Poetry Library will be closed from 1pm tomorrow, reopening again on Thursday at 10am. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Vintage Street Scene: Playful Interaction
ALT: Vintage Street Scene: Playful Interaction
static.klipy.com
September 15, 2026 at 2:39 PM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
Poem of the Week in The Scotsman magazine (6th Sep 26) is Jeffrey Wainwright's poem 'Interval'.
September 8, 2026 at 10:05 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
A poetry-packed Robert Fergusson thread to celebrate his 276th birthday (which was on Saturday).
asls.org.uk Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · Sep 5
Daft gowk, in macaroni dress,
Are ye come here to shaw your face,
Bowden wi’ pride o’ simmer gloss,
To cast a dash at Reikie’s cross…

—“On Seeing a Butterfly in the Street”, by Robert Fergusson (1750–1774) – born #OTD, 5 Sept. In his short life he reinvigorated #poetry in Scots. A 🎂🧵
#C18
On Seeing a Butterfly in the Street Robert Fergusson Daft gowk, in macaroni dress, Are ye come here to shaw your face, Bowden wi’ pride o’ simmer gloss, To cast a dash at Reikie’s cross; And glowr at mony a twa-legg’d creature, Flees, braw by art, tho’ worms by nature? Like country laird in city cleeding, Ye’re come to town to lear’ good breeding; To bring ilk darling toast and fashion In vogue amang the flee creation, That they, like buskit belles and beaux, May crook their mou’ fu’ sour at those Whase weird is still to creep, alas! Unnotic’d ʼmang the humble grass; While you, wi’ wings new buskit trim, Can far frae yird and reptiles skim; Newfangle grown wi’ new-got form, You soar aboon your mither worm. Kind Nature lent but for a day Her wings to mak ye sprush and gay; In her habuliments a while Ye may your former sell beguile, And ding awa’ the vexing thought O’ hourly dwinin’ into nought, By beengin’ to your foppish brithers, Black corbies dress’d in peacock’s feathers; Like thee they dander here and there, Whan Simmer’s blinks are warm and fair, And lo’e to snuff the healthy balm, Whan E’enin’ spreads her wing sae calm; But whan she girns and glow’rs sae dour Frae Borean houff in angry show’r, Like thee they scour frae street or field, And hap them in a lyther bield; For they were never made to dree The adverse gloom o’ Fortune’s e’e, Nor ever pried life’s pinin’ woes, Nor pu’d the prickles wi’ the rose. Poor Butterfly! thy case I mourn, To green kail-yard and fruits return: How could you troke the mavis’ note For “penny pies all-pipin’ hot?” Can lintie’s music be compar’d Wi’ gruntles frae the City Guard? Or can our flow’rs, at ten hour’s bell, The gowan or the spink excel? Now shou’d our sclates wi’ hailstanes ring, What cabbage-fauld wad screen your wing; Say, fluttering fairy! wert thy hap To light beneath braw Nanny’s cap, Wad she, proud butterfly of May! In pity let you skaithless gae? The furies glancing frae her een Wad rug your wings o’ siller sheen, That, wae for thee! far, far outvy Her Paris artist’s finest dye; Then a’ your bonny spraings wad fall, And you a worm be left to crawl. To sic mishanter rins the laird Wha quits his ha’-house and kail-yard, Grows politician, scours to court, Whare he’s the laughing-stock and sport O’ Ministers, wha jeer and jibe, And heeze his hopes wi’ thought o’ bribe, Till in the end they flae him bare, Leave him to poortith, and to care. Their fleetchin’ words owre late he sees, He trudges hame, repines, and dies. Sic be their fa’ wha dirk their ben In blackest business nae their ain; And may they scad their lips fu’ leal, That dip their spoons in ither’s kail.
September 7, 2026 at 8:20 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
EXPRESSING THE EARTH

As part of the Curious festival this award-winning documentary reflects on the life & work of Scottish poet and founder of the geopoetics community, Kenneth White.

Followed by a Q&A with director Glenda Rome and producer Norman Bissell. Tickets:

rse.org.uk/event/expres...
Expressing the Earth: Film screening
Join us for a special two-part event featuring an award-winning documentary exploring geopoetics.
rse.org.uk
September 3, 2026 at 1:02 PM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
A mighty gathering of the country's finest Gaelic speaking poets at The Tramway, Glasgow on Thurs 10th September.
September 3, 2026 at 9:17 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
ICYMI 😊
September 3, 2026 at 9:11 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
🎙️ NEW SPL PODCAST!

Its the 1st of the month which means our monthly poetry podcast NOTHING BUT THE POEM is let loose, this time with host @samueltongue.bsky.social taking a deep dive into two poems by the wonderful Imtiaz Dharker

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/noth...
Nothing But The Poem- Imtiaz Dharker
The SPL’s resident podcast host Sam Tongue takes a deep dive into two poems by one of Britain’s most beloved poets, Imtiaz Dharker. Imtiaz Dharker – a Pakistani-born poet who grew up in Glasgow, then ...
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
September 1, 2026 at 1:03 PM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
The Peace of Wild Things
by Wendell Berry (RIP)

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/peace-w...
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me / and I wake in the night at the least sound / in fear of what...
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
September 1, 2026 at 10:14 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
Storytelling as a means of survival in colder climates, by Iona Lee.

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2026/08/stor...
Storytelling as a means of survival in colder climates
Iona Lee reflects on her residency in Greenland in July 2026I arrived in Greenland on Monday evening, hopping from grey Edinburgh to gloomy Reykjavik and on through to a bright blue Nuuk – the world’s...
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
August 31, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by Scottish Poetry Library
azjackson.bsky.social
I think this is a very worthwhile poetry bursary, and if you know someone who might benefit from it, please do pass this on! @byleaveswelive.bsky.social

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/dymphna-burs...
Dymphna Bursary (2026)
The Dymphna Bursary is awarded annually to a poet resident in Scotland who identifies as neurodivergent or has a learning disability
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
August 25, 2026 at 7:46 PM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
2026 DYMPHNA BURSARY

It's back! A £2000 poetry bursary specifically for emerging poets resident in Scotland who identify as neurodivergent or have a learning disability.

Deadline is National Poetry Day on Thur 1st Oct. Info can be found here:

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/dymphna-burs...
Dymphna Bursary (2026)
The Dymphna Bursary is awarded annually to a poet resident in Scotland who identifies as neurodivergent or has a learning disability
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
August 25, 2026 at 10:13 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
3 years ago Kate Millar was selected to be one of the SPL's 2023 Next Generation Young Makars. Last night at @edbookfest.bsky.social Kate was of the shortlisted runners up in the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award. Well done Kate! The joint winners were Tom Bailey and Zainab Imran 👏
August 19, 2026 at 8:53 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
🤔 What's a tokotoko stick?

Selina Tusitala Marsh (Commonwealth Poet Laureate) tells all to Peter Mackay (Scotland's Makar)

youtu.be/4vPRVr0hF2c
Selina Tusitala Marsh & Peter Mackay discuss the former New Zealand Poet Laureate's tokotoko stick.
YouTube video by ScottishPoetryLib
youtu.be
August 17, 2026 at 10:47 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
You can now watch a full-length recording of our Commonwealth River Rights Poetry Anthology launch, which took place at The Briggait in Glasgow on 1 August.
Featuring Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh, Scotland's Makar Peter Mackay and actor Tam Dean Burn.

youtu.be/ft9GpckoZeU
The Commonwealth River Rights Poetry Anthology launch at the Watershed, Glasgow 2026 Games Festival
YouTube video by ScottishPoetryLib
youtu.be
August 6, 2026 at 12:00 PM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
🖋️ WILD WRITING

The in-person course at the SPL is now sold out but there are still places on the 8 week online course for those who'd prefer to participate from the comfort of their own home.

Starts 6pm, Tues 11th Aug. All the info is below:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wild-writi...
Wild Writing (online).
8 week online course with Lorna French: poetry-led, timed writing in a supportive small group. No judgement, just honest pages.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
August 4, 2026 at 9:26 AM
byleaveswelive.bsky.social
We have produced a podcast with Selina Tusitala Marsh, Commonwealth Poet Laureate, in conversation with Peter Mackay, Scotland's Makar.
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-q6b4j-...

Selina's visit and participation in the Glasgow Games Festival is sponsored by the British Council New Zealand & the Pacific.
August 1, 2026 at 11:36 AM