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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 4h

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

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

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...

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Reposted by Scottish Poetry Library

Ellen Forkin @ellenforkin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

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

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

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

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...

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

IAN HAMILTON FINLAY concrete as an ART form Film and Live Performance Wed 21st Oct, Biggar Corn Exchange

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

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

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The Scotsman's Poem of the Week (19th Sept 26) is 'Trains' by Rob A Mackenzie

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

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.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

🎙️ 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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

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.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The Scottish Poetry Library will be closed from 1pm tomorrow, reopening again on Thursday at 10am. Apologies for any inconvenience.

static.klipy.com

Vintage Street Scene: Playful Interaction

ALT: Vintage Street Scene: Playful Interaction

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Poem of the Week in The Scotsman magazine (6th Sep 26) is Jeffrey Wainwright's poem 'Interval'.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A poetry-packed Robert Fergusson thread to celebrate his 276th birthday (which was on Saturday).

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

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...

rse.org.uk

Expressing the Earth: Film screening

Join us for a special two-part event featuring an award-winning documentary exploring geopoetics.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

A mighty gathering of the country's finest Gaelic speaking poets at The Tramway, Glasgow on Thurs 10th September.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

🎙️ 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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

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 ...

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Reposted by Scottish Poetry Library

Andy Jackson @azjackson.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

Dymphna Bursary (2026)

The Dymphna Bursary is awarded annually to a poet resident in Scotland who identifies as neurodivergent or has a learning disability

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

Dymphna Bursary (2026)

The Dymphna Bursary is awarded annually to a poet resident in Scotland who identifies as neurodivergent or has a learning disability

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

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 👏

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

🤔 What's a tokotoko stick? Selina Tusitala Marsh (Commonwealth Poet Laureate) tells all to Peter Mackay (Scotland's Makar) youtu.be/4vPRVr0hF2c

youtu.be

Selina Tusitala Marsh & Peter Mackay discuss the former New Zealand Poet Laureate's tokotoko stick.

YouTube video by ScottishPoetryLib

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

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

youtu.be

The Commonwealth River Rights Poetry Anthology launch at the Watershed, Glasgow 2026 Games Festival

YouTube video by ScottishPoetryLib

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

🖋️ 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...

eventbrite.co.uk

Wild Writing (online).

8 week online course with Lorna French: poetry-led, timed writing in a supportive small group. No judgement, just honest pages.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

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.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

The football may be over but on our lending shelves the poetry never stops 🇪🇦

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

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...

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

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.

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Reposted by Scottish Poetry Library

Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 08/07/2026

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

Saving the Planet
Tessa Ransford

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?

We cannot die for ourselves since death is the end of us
we cannot live for ourselves since that is absurdity
we die for what we can give and abandon generously

Here is what we die for:
our family name and honour
our children and children’s children
the principle of beauty in truth
a working mind and heart
humans who live with the planet
who thrive on thrift
who love to share and build
more life, life to die for.

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Reposted by Scottish Poetry Library

Louise Welsh @louisewelsh00.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

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.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

'Cayes-Jacmel' by Mattea Gernentz Poem of the Week in The Scotsman magazine (11 July 26). Mattea is a former Next Generation Young Makar.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

How's your Festival Season coming along? Dont forget to pack a poetry book in your rucksack.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

Scotland's Next Generation Young Makars 2026

Scotland's Next Generation Young Makars 2026. A mentoring initiative pairing young poets with established writers.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

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/

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

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 ...

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

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

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

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...

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

“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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

From Scotland to Charleston: bridging Gaelic and Gullah cultures

Scotland’s Makar Peter Mackay visited Charleston, South Carolina to explore Scottish Connections

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

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-...

pushtheboatout.org

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...

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 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-...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

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!

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The Scotsman Poem of the Week 'Darlings -' by Tom Pow

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

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...

eventbrite.co.uk

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.

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

⚽️ 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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

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

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

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...

crowdfunder.co.uk

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

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

⚽ 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)

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Scottish Poetry Library @byleaveswelive.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

🎙️ 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...

scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk

Nothing But The Poem - Selima Hill

Our regular podcast host Samuel Tongue rolls up his sleeves for one of his favourite poets, Selima Hill

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