Book worm

Published on Wednesday 25 March 2009 17:30

ROBERT BURNS … BURNS

Best festival opening: This year's StAnza got it absolutely spot-on: two short readings, one from the poet from the furthest country (New Zealand: Bill Manhire), one from the nearest (England: Kate Clanchy).

And then a welcome speech from First Minister Alex Salmond that fitted the bill perfectly: not wordy or worthy but witty; seven minutes of self-mockery which got the good times yet had a spine of seriousness and intent.

Burns, he said, was the presiding spirit of Homecoming, and the key to Burns was empathy. For proof, all you had to do was look at Burns's diary entry after a day spent touring Linlithgow. When it came to picking out what had meant most to him that day, Salmond said, Burns didn't mention getting the civic honours bestowed on him: instead he wrote about wandering around the ruins of the castle and its church, and noted how pale an imitation of religion his presbyterianism was by comparison with the ruined riches of the buildings Mary Queen of Scots would have known.

Such empathy – a presbyterian egalitarian Scot looking back fondly on a Catholic queen – was part of Burns's greatness, Salmond concluded.

As applause rang out, David Mach's live-match sculpture of the Bard's head was ignited. What better, more dramatic, way to spark a book festival into life could there be?

AWARDS AND PEACE

While we're still handing out bouquets, here are a few more: Best new voice– Jay Bernard, still a student at Oxford and already a Poetry Book Society recommendation for her pamphlet with Tall Lighthouse.

Most unlikely thing to do with Emily Dickinson: Bill Manhire, talking about poetry in relationship to song lyrics, claims that any Emily Dickinson poem can be sung to the tune of the Yellow Rose of Texas. We can only assume he's tried it.

Best book title that never was: Simon Armitage wanted the cover of his latest collection to be a particular shade of red lipstick that his sister used to wear, called 'I'm no waitress'. "I wanted to call the book that," he says. "But I chickened out." Still, Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Corduroy Kid is a pretty good second best.

Best description of a villanelle: "Like a headache turned into poetry" – Jay Parini.

Finally, best description of the Chancellor of the Exchequer: "An anxious badger" – Elvis McGonagall.