What is a makar?

A makar is a term from Scottish literature for a poet or bard, often historically associated with a royal court.

Most recently the term has been variously and geographically awarded to Magi Gibson, Valerie Gillies, Edwin Morgan, Stewart Conn, Liz Lochhead, Ron Butlin and Sheena Blackhall.

Its meaning is similar to the Greek term ποιητής (poiētēs): both poet and maker. And it implies a poet who knows how to create or craft tautly weighted, often formal poetry with intricate or involved diction, word play and rhythms. Sounds delightfully geeky to me.

It is usually applied to poets writing in Scots but not always. William Dunbar for instance referred to the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, as a makar.

If you know an overlooked makar, please let us know...

Sheena Blackhall's Wittins

If you have never imagined what might happen when 38 poets sailed across Loch Katrine once home to Walter Scott's Lady of the Lake and now "the City of Glasgow's water supply", don't worry Sheena Blackhall has.

In 2009 Sheena Blackhall was appointed the first Makar for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Sheena Blackhall is a Nor' Aest scriever, illustrator, tradeetional ballant sangster an shenachie or, you might say, a poet, novelist, short story writer, illustrator, traditional story teller and singer. Author of 76 poetry pamphlets, and many other works, she co-edits the Doric resource Elphinstone Kist, and works to promote writing in Doric, Scots culture and language in the North East.

Try Wittins; A Selection of poems by Sheena Blackhall published by diehard publishers, 91-93 Main Street Callander Scotland FK17 8BQ ISBN 978-0946230-82-2 , September 201 compiled with an introduction by Sally Evans, editor of Poetry Scotland, and a foreword by Joy Hendry, editor of Chapman Magazine.

diehard poetry is a series of books published at Kings Bookshop Callander (formerly Old Grindles Bookshop, Edinburgh); contact via http://www.desktopsallye.com/. Wittins was launched at the Callander Poetry Weekend, one of the revolutionary diehard metallic bindings series. These are sewn opening flat, Trip-to-Jerusalem style bookbinding and, cheekily, a nod to the e-reader in a metallic finish.

The Poetry Trust's poetry channel

Some great treats here amongst the archived podcasts of the poetry channel: John Glenday on Grain, Imtiaz Dharker on swear words and lullabies, Seamus Heaney, Lars Gustafsson...


The Poetry Trust (which runs it) describes itself as one of the UK’s flagship poetry organisations, it runs the popular Aldeburgh Poetry festival ( 23rd Aldeburgh Poetry Festival 4 - 6 November 2011) but still missed out on UK Arts Council funding. So catch it while you can...

For the poetry channel archive go here: http://www.thepoetrytrust.org/poetry-channel/archive/
For the Poetry Trust and its many offerings http://www.thepoetrytrust.org/

Gawain poet tweet poetry

Gawain and the Green Knight is written by an anonymous poet but it maintains an attitude and dialect that ties it to Lancashire in England at a time when the region supported a ducal court. It is supposed that the poem was written for its discerning aristocracy but the jokes - that even God won't go into the Wirral, for example - can raise a smile even today.

poetandgeek poetandgeek.com 

þene herde he a wonder breme noyse hit clatered in þe clyff as a gryndelston hade grounden a syþe hit wharred and whette as water at a mulne

13 seconds ago Favorite Reply Delete

The language is difficult but worth prising apart. And the poet uses the very grammar to come to his assistance,  intricate complicated clausal sentences for example when Gawain is trying to avoid the Lady's advances. Middle English is in some ways like a computer program that you love to hate - but oh how much you learn and what things you can do when you understand it.

I have slightly adapted the above to fit the tweet but it comes from the end of Gawain's journey when he hears the axe with which he is about to be beheaded being sharpened by the Green Knight. It is an eerie passage.

In full, it runs as follows:

þene herde he of þat hy₃e hil in a harde roche

        2200bi₃onde þe broke in a bonk a wonder breme noyse

        2201quat hit clatered in þe clyff as hit cleue schulde

        2202as one vpon a gryndelston hade grounden a syþe

        2203what hit wharred and whette as water at a mulne

        2204what hit rusched and ronge rawþe to here.

        2205þenne bi godde quoþ gawayn þat here at I trowe

        2206is ryched at þe reuerence me renk to mete

Gawain thinks he is about to die:

A very strange noise came from the rock in the high hill over the burn clattering against the cliff like it might break them apart, like a scythe on a grindstone whetting, and it whirred like water through the mill wheel, rushed and rung and evil to hear. 'My God,' said Gawain, 'that mortal is getting the gear ready that will kill me when we meet.

If you get the chance to go to Danebridge in the Peak District, you can find your own way to the Green Chapel. I would recommend it. Who knows what you will find there...

More on Gawain here: http://books.google.com/books?id=utiWYyWMEl4C.

Once you start reading this poem, you may find you never stop.

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5e Cabaret Noches de poesia au MTL Fringe Juin 2011

This event takes place on 11th June until 19th June 2011. Featured artists include: Baruch Porras-Hernandez (SanFran), Andre Prefontaine (Calgary), Tara Dawn (Saskatoon), Josée Thibeault (Edmonton) et Steve Miller (Vancouver), Miss D-Na Smith (Montréal), Fabrice Koffy (Montréal), Duccha/Duckens Charitable (Montréal) et Éliz Robert (Montréal).

***La super star du Nuyorican Poets Cafe et du Def Poetry Jam : REGIE CABICO sera également des nôtres pour quelques soirées! The Lady Gaga OF poetry in MONTRÉAL!***

More information from:



http://www.nochesdepoesia.com/
http://montrealfringe.ca/fr
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=220786387932875

Marianne Moore Tweet Poetry

Syllabic poetry is the very opposite of Pussy in a Well. This is from The Paper Nautilus published in 1919.

poetandgeek poetandgeek.com 

I too dislike it there are things important beyond all this fiddle Reading with perfect contempt one discovers a place for the genuine

7 seconds ago Favorite Reply Delete

Moore was an American poet who lived from 1887 until 1972. She worked within the framework of American Modernism with great wit but also explored the French syllabic tradition. She didn't shy away from straight-talking and thinking (as Sylvia Plath discovered when she sent her some poems).

Photograph by George Platt Lynes (1935)

More on syllabic verse traditions and its English language exponents here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllabic_verse.