Scottish Poetry Library
@byleaveswelive.bsky.social
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
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 👏
🤔 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
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
🖋️ 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.
eventbrite.co.uk
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.
TOP 50 POEMS We've complied the 50 most visited poems on the Scottish Poetry Library website. One or two surprises and many old favourites... www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2026/07/what...
What Are You Reading? Our 50 Most-Visited Poems
Every poem on our website has a life of its own once it leaves the shelf — some are visited a handful of times a year, others are read again and again, day after day. We recently took a look at a snap...
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
The football may be over but on our lending shelves the poetry never stops 🇪🇦
Welsh-Scottish poet RJ Arkhipov was appointed Poet-in-Residence for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The residency will place poetry at the heart of Glasgow 2026, inviting Arkhipov to respond to the people, places and stories of the Games. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2026/07/rj-a...
RJ Arkhipov appointed Poet-in-Residence for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games
Welsh-Scottish poet and writer RJ Arkhipov has been appointed Poet-in-Residence for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Delivered in partnership with the Scottish Poetry Library, the residency will p...
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
The library is closed today (Thursday, 16th July) for an offsite staff activity. We will be back open to the public on Monday from 10am.
Something to die for To die: to give up life for to die for means to live for would we want to die for what we would not live for? —“Saving the Planet” by Tessa Ransford (1938–2015) – poet, activist, & founding director of @byleaveswelive.bsky.social – born #OTD, 8 July #poem #poetry
Treat yourself to a moment of reflection & this beautiful reading of Touchstones for Hydrologists by Ramya Chamalie Jirasinghe, featured in Watershed Poetry Anthology launching 1st Aug @byleaveswelive.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launch-of-... www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/touchst...
Touchstones for Hydrologists
Touchstones for Hydrologists by Ramya Chamalie Jirasinghe is included in an anthology of poems themed on the Rights of Rivers commissioned by the SPL for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
'Cayes-Jacmel' by Mattea Gernentz Poem of the Week in The Scotsman magazine (11 July 26). Mattea is a former Next Generation Young Makar.
How's your Festival Season coming along? Dont forget to pack a poetry book in your rucksack.
MEET SCOTLAND'S NEXT GENERATION YOUNG MAKARS! The SPL is proud to announce the appointments of the 2026 Next Generation Young Makars: Autumn Walker, Fearghas MacLugh, Harry Ledgerwood, Lexi Ashcroft, Neave Scott and Robert Thorne. Meet them here: www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/scotlands-ne...
Scotland's Next Generation Young Makars 2026
Scotland's Next Generation Young Makars 2026. A mentoring initiative pairing young poets with established writers.
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
In support of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Festival, we have produced a poetry anthology on the theme of the Right of Rivers. These will be read at an event at The Briggait in Glasgow on 1 Aug with Commonwealth Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/river-poems/
Will this river offer a song?
Clyde, the mascot of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, took its name from the city’s famous river, while the 2026 mascot, Finnie, is named after the iconic Finnieston Crane on the river’s bank. In ...
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
It's 'Gies a Scots Poem Day 2026', in partnership @handsupfortrad.bsky.social @royalscottishacad.bsky.social We've commissioned 10 poets to respond to MacDiarmid’s 'A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle' for the poem's 100th birthday! www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/gies-a-scots... #Giesascotspoemsday
Gies a Scots Poem Day 2026
This year’s Gies a Scots Poem Day is something special. 2026 marks the centenary of Hugh MacDiarmid’s A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle — a foundational work for contemporary poetry in Scots, and a poe...
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
It's 'Gies a Scots Poem Day 2026', in partnership @handsupfortrad.bsky.social. We've commissioned 10 poets to respond to MacDiarmid’s 'A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle' for the poem's 100th birthday! Find the poems and videos here www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/gies-a-scots... #Giesascotspoemsday
Gies a Scots Poem Day 2026
This year’s Gies a Scots Poem Day is something special. 2026 marks the centenary of Hugh MacDiarmid’s A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle — a foundational work for contemporary poetry in Scots, and a poe...
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
“It was a real honour to be in Charleston to explore the connections – historic and present, difficult and creative – between Scotland and South Carolina.” Peter Mackay, Scotland’s Makar www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2026/06/from...
From Scotland to Charleston: bridging Gaelic and Gullah cultures
Scotland’s Makar Peter Mackay visited Charleston, South Carolina to explore Scottish Connections
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
Gie a Scots Poem Day is coming ... share your favourite Scots verse on social media on Wed 10th June with the hashtag #GieAScotsPoemDay projects.handsupfortrad.scot/handsupfortr...
Gies A Scots Poem Day is back on Wednesday 10th June
Gies A Scots Poem Day is back on Wednesday 10th June and we’re absolutely delighted to be partnering once again with the Scottish Poetry Library to make it even better! We want as m…
projects.handsupfortrad.scot
RESIDENCIES AT LITTLE SPARTA Deadline: Mon 29 June A @ptbopoetry.bsky.social residency to support the creation of new poetry-led work, responding to the work of Iain Hamilton Finlay, the gardens at Little Sparta and this year’s festival theme The Space Between. pushtheboatout.org/residencies-...
Residencies at Little Sparta – Call for applications - 2025 Push The Boat Out Festival
Push the Boat Out, Edinburgh’s International Poetry Festival is partnering with Little Sparta on a residency programme to support the creation of new poetry-led work, responding to the work of Iain Ha...
pushtheboatout.org
ICYMI - Part 3 ⚽
Scottish Poetry Library@byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 3mo ago🏴 GIE IT LALDY - SCOTLAND DREAMS OF THE WORLD CUP A poem written by the Tartan Army and the people of Scotland to send the team on its way across the Atlantic. Put together by Peter Mackay (Makar) from lines submitted. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/gie-it-...
ICYMI - Part 2 ⚽
Scottish Poetry Library@byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 3mo ago⚽️ NEW! IN OFF THE BARD SPL commissioned 4 poets - from Brazil, Haiti, Morocco & Scotland - to respond to the men's World Cup that kicks off next week. Here's Scotland's Group C featuring 🇯🇲 OCotta! 🇲🇦 Mouna Ouafik 🇭🇹 Bertony Louis and 🏴 Julie McNeill www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/in-off-the-b...
🏴 GIE IT LALDY - SCOTLAND DREAMS OF THE WORLD CUP A poem written by the Tartan Army and the people of Scotland to send the team on its way across the Atlantic. Put together by Peter Mackay (Makar) from lines submitted. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/gie-it-...
Gie it laldy - Scotland dreams of the World Cup
You sent in your lines, your hopes, your dreams and our Makar got tae work on them. After much jiggling them aboot here it is. Our World Cup poem. By the people of Scotland!
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
The Scotsman Poem of the Week 'Darlings -' by Tom Pow
Mischief Night is a celebration of the late great Roddy Lumsden in what would've been his 60th year. The Mischief Night website lists the 500 records Roddy left behind: www.corblimeybadges.co.uk/MischiefNight/ Event at Waverley Bar in Edinburgh on Fri 12 June: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mischief-n...
Mischief Night - Roddy Lumsden's Return
Roddy Lumsden would have been 60 this year. Join us to celebrate his life and legacy, and hear records from Roddy's collection.
eventbrite.co.uk
⚽️ NEW! IN OFF THE BARD SPL commissioned 4 poets - from Brazil, Haiti, Morocco & Scotland - to respond to the men's World Cup that kicks off next week. Here's Scotland's Group C featuring 🇯🇲 OCotta! 🇲🇦 Mouna Ouafik 🇭🇹 Bertony Louis and 🏴 Julie McNeill www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/in-off-the-b...
In Off The Bard
The four poets here are from the countries brought together in the finest of World Cup groups, C – Brazil, Haiti, Morocco and Scotland
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
SHEILA TEMPLETON BURSARY "Our aim with the Sheila Templeton Bursary is to promote new and emerging young writers who might struggle to attend the Wee Gaitherin Festival in Stonehaven (3-5 Sep) without financial support, and to champion their work." www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-sheila...
The Sheila Templeton Bursary
Bursary in memory of much-admired Scottish poet Sheila Templeton to enable two young poets to take part in the Wee Gaitherin Festival
crowdfunder.co.uk
⚽ Below is one of the SPL's exclusive World Cup poetry projects/publications. We have 3 more this week to get folk in the mood for next week's kick off.. Today: IN OFF THE BARD (feat. poets from all 4 Group C nations) Wed: GIE IT LALDY (The people's poem). Thurs: LA COPA DE VIDA (The dissenter)
Scottish Poetry Library@byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 3mo agoTo Scotland With Love A Moroccan poet, Mouna Ouafik, looks forward to the World Cup and writes of her love of playing football, and for all things Scottish #worldcup www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2026/05/to-s...
🎙️ NEW POETRY PODCAST Our regular podcast host Samuel Tongue rolls up his sleeves for one of his favourite poets, Selima Hill, examining two poems from her 1997 collection, Violet (Bloodaxe) @samueltongue.bsky.social @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/noth...
Nothing But The Poem - Selima Hill
Our regular podcast host Samuel Tongue rolls up his sleeves for one of his favourite poets, Selima Hill
scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk