Round-up: Scottish poetry

Published on Friday 2 May 2008 17:21

ROUND-UP: SCOTTISH POETRY

A TO B

Gerry McGrath

Carcanet 9.95

'A To B' was initially a poem written to record a journey, but the real voyage was to be McGrath's emotional one in writing this first collection. Composed in three distinct parts, starting with the sighting of an aircraft and ending with "something like madness and love", it rings with McGrath's clear, thoughtful voice. Giving a day the same pensive consideration as the world, gently weighing and conveying thoughts with care and unassuming grace, this book is like "slow lightning". His clear eye and unfussy writing invite re-reading, and each page unveils another small epiphany.

Also try: Kathleen Jamie, Findings

FULL VOLUME

Robert Crawford

Cape, 9

To Robert Crawford "Nothing is ever single", and his new collection is joyful testament to this. Challenging dichotomies throughout, he marries old and new, where homage to Gaelic, Latin, chatrooms and the new St Andrews digital library sit side by side. As diverse as his subject matter is, the constancy in Crawford's poetry lies in his inventiveness. Each poem in this collection cavorts with language while standing together as an authentic celebration of "the national smudge of Scotland", past and present.

Also try: Robin Robertson, Slow Air

www.the human genome.co.uk

Gillian K Ferguson

Gillian K Ferguson received an SAC grant to the tune of 25,000 for this epic project, subtitled 'Poems on the Book of Life'. It is humongous, in vision, ambition and outlook, and took four 'obsessive' years to complete. Stitched around quotes and facts, her poems are wide-eyed and zealous, full of wonderment, where religion and science coagulate into art. The sheer scope is to be applauded, but if 'in the work of the world, everything is a poem', the realisation of that poem can be overwhelming.

Also try: www.debris.org.uk