Scottish Poetry Library

Tomorrow in Glasgow… #IWD2026

Poetry/Music Night Charity Fundraiser For International Women's Day.

💥 CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Sat 7th March
YAMA Studios
Glasgow

A night of poetry and music to celebrate International Women's Day. Curated by Ria Smart, former Scottish Young Makar. All ticket proceeds go to the charity Women For Afghan Women.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poetrymusi...

'Funerals during genocide' by Gazan poet Mohammed Moussa

The Scotsman's Poem of the Week on Sat 21st Feb

Hayden Murphy recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to Poetry in Scotland Hayden Murphy announced as the third recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Poetry in Scotland award.

Hayden Murphy has been recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to Poetry in Scotland. Hayden is the 3rd recipient of the award which was announced at a special event at Ireland's Consulate in Edinburgh last week.

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2026/03/hayd...

Nothing But The Poem - Jack Gilbert This edition of Nothing But The Poem features two poems by the American poet Jack Gilbert (1925-2012), both of which are included in Gilbert's penultimate collection 'Refusing Heaven'.

🎙️ New Nothing But The Poem Podcast!

Featuring a deep dive by @samueltongue.bsky.social into two poems by American poet Jack Gilbert (1925-2012), both of which are included in Gilbert's penultimate collection 'Refusing Heaven'.

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/noth...

Compiling Gaelic words for the Crowned Bard The Gaelic Books Council are asking people to send them their unusual Gaelic words and phrases.

Compiling Gaelic words for the Crowned Bard

If you have any Gaelic words or phrases rarely used today get in touch. Anna Frater, the An Comunn Gàidhealach Crowned Bard will write a poem using these words in an effort to preserve the essence and meaning of them:

www.gaelicbooks.org/compiling-ga...

FINAL DEADLINE THIS WEEK - If you're interested in submitting a piece of creative writing on #climatechange to help this @glasgow.ac.uk research, you have until 28th February 🌏✏️

#AcademicSky @uoe-sps.bsky.social @womenslibrary.bsky.social @edfuturesinstitute.bsky.social @byleaveswelive.bsky.social

#ScottishPoetryEvents

Tâigael: Stories from Taiwanese and Gaelic Working with writers from Taiwan and Scotland to commission and translate short stories between Tâi-gí (Taiwanese) and Gaelic. Supported by the Scottish Connections Fund.

Tâigael aig Seachdain na Gàidhlig

Elissa Hunter-Dorans, Gaelic poet & former Scottish Poetry Library Young Makar presents the book Tâigael: Stories from Taiwanese and Gaelic, which also features Lisa MacDonald, Kiú-kiong and Naomi Sím, at Edin Univ as part of Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026

taigael.com

The outsider who writes from within – The Friday Poem Matthew Stewart looks at the work of Michael Laskey - The outsider who writes from within

Congratulations to Michael Laskey who was awarded the King's Medal For Poetry at the weekend. Here's a fine appraisal of his work by Matthew Stewart @roguestrands.bsky.social

thefridaypoem.com/michael-lask...

Staff have gone all lovey-dovey at the SPL for our display, choosing their favourite collections of love poems. Enjoy the weekend with poetry. 💖

Wild Writing: generative writing classes, 6 week in person block Breathe out onto the page. Write, and feel the benefits in this 6 week intimate course that uses poetry to stimulate and soothe.

WILD WRITING STARTS TOMORROW

Breathe out onto the page. Write and feel the benefits in this 6 week intimate course.

6 x in-person workshops at the SPL.

1 ticket covers all 6 dates: 10th Feb, 17th Feb, 24th Feb, 3rd Mar, 10th Mar, 17th Mar

10-11.30am.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wild-writi...

Level Vibes: Burns Night 2026 Levels Vibes is a programme of poetry commissions by Jamaican writers for Burns Night 2026.

As the caught haggises await their annual slaughter, and Burns Night suppers draw nigh, ye might be looking for something intellectually meaty to read this bonnie January day. So here’s LEVEL VIBE featuring Burns and the Scottish-Jamaica connections.

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/burns-night-...

Robert Burns by Greg Moodie A page dedicated to Burns Night, Robert Burns's poems and contemporary responses to the life and work of Scotland's national poet.

Our website servers are primed! Address To A Haggis will get over 100,000 hits this weekend. Plus there are all the other #BurnsNight resources we have online for anyone wanting info about the bard, ideas for suppers, etc. Have a braw wee browse.
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/burns-night/

We were impressed by the poetry readings presented by pupils of Leith Academy (Edinburgh) and Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun (Dublin) at a Burns Supper in Dublin.

The theme of the poems was Friendship. The event was produced by the Scottish Government in Ireland.

Some breaking art historical news for you - a lost portrait of Robert Burns by Sir Henry Raeburn was unveiled today at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. It’s been missing for more than 200 years.
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In Conversation With Valerie Gillies The poet Valerie Gillies discusses her life in poetry with the SPL's Samuel Tongue and Sukhema (aka Larry Butler)

An extended SPL podcast featuring poet Valerie Gillies in conversation with @samueltongue.bsky.social and Sukhema (aka Larry Butler) reflecting on her work as a poet and poetry facilitator.

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/in-c...

The Arts Mix starts in a couple of minutes on BBC Radio Scotland.... 🎙️

BBC Radio Scotland - Afternoons, The Arts Mix, H is for Hawk, Saipan and The Last Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots Author Helen Macdonald talks about the new film of her memoir, H is for Hawk.

LEVEL VIBES: BURNS NIGHT 2026 will feature on The Arts Mix today between 3.30-4pm. Jamaica's former Poet Laureate Lorna Goodison chats about her relationship with Robert Burns and her time at Burns Ellisand Farm. Dr Stephen Mullen discusses his essay on Burns & Slavery.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Robert Burns by Greg Moodie A page dedicated to Burns Night, Robert Burns's poems and contemporary responses to the life and work of Scotland's national poet.

Around #BurnsNight our website is the most popular poetry website in the world. 100,000+ hits on Address To A Haggis page alone. (Extra bandwidth required).

Our website has resources for anyone planning a haggis, whisky & poetry happening + much more.

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/burns-night/

Congratulations to Karen Solie on winning the TS Eliot Prize for her most recent collection Wellwater, published by @picadorbooks.bsky.social

Karen Solie teaches for half the year at St Andrews University and lives the rest of her time in Canada. Karen is part of @northseapoets.bsky.social group.

Stagecoach invites customers to channel their inner Burns with ‘Bard on the Bus’ competition Stagecoach invites customers to channel their inner Burns with ‘Bard on the Bus’ competition and more. We support the business community in Edinburgh to grow success.

Until 25th January, Stagecoach are running a Burns-themed poetry competition. Entrants are invited to choose one of three classic themes drawn from Burns’ own work - love, nature or buses -for the chance to win a Scottish-themed hamper. Details:

www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/stagecoach-i...

Entries now open for the 2026 Forward Prizes for Poetry. Deadline is Sun 15 Mar 2026.

Criteria updated for Best Single Poem. See section before entering this category.

Entries must be registered via Submittable platform, including PDFs. Full details:

forwardartsfoundation.org/forward-priz...

Now into their 41st year @poemsonthetube.bsky.social have gone with Shelley's Ozymandias for their Poem of the Week. Can't think why.

She is indeed.

Poetry for Breakfast with Christine De Luca at The Scottish Gallery We are honoured to welcome Christine De Luca, one of Scotland’s most distinguished poets and a former Edinburgh Makar, for a very special morning event. Born

Poetry for Breakfast with Christine De Luca

Sat 17 Jan, 10:15am
The Scottish Gallery

Christine will read selected poems that resonate with themes in The Northern Isles, exploring the island languages, rhythms & histories that shape the artistic imagination.

scottish-gallery.co.uk/events/poetr...

The two poems by Andrea Gibson discussed in the podcast are:

💥 IN THE CHEMO ROOM, I WEAR MITTENS MADE OF ICE SO I DON’T LOSE MY FINGERNAILS. BUT I TOOK A RISK TODAY TO WRITE THIS DOWN.

💥 INSTEAD OF DEPRESSION

Nothing But The Poem - Andrea Gibson When Andrea Gibson died in 2025 it was a huge loss to the poetry community worldwide. In this edition of Nothing But The Poem two of Andrea's poems are read and discussed.

🎙️ NEW PODCAST!

When Andrea Gibson died in 2025 it was a huge loss to the poetry community worldwide. In the latest edition of our regular Nothing But The Poem podcast two of Andrea's poems are read and discussed by host @samueltongue.bsky.social

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/noth...

COMING SOON...

Our first Nothing But The Poem podcast will be posted online later today featuring two poems - read and discussed by @samueltongue.bsky.social - by the late, and much missed, poet #AndreaGibson.

The most 'commented upon' #BurnsNight project initiated by the SPL featured The Trysting Thorns: a group of Scottish women poets who produced nearly a dozen new works, many of which give voice to the women in the bard’s life and work.

www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poets-respon...