Sean O’Brien | Carry a Poem

Poets For Haiti Event Thursday, 11 February 2010

Posted by edincityoflit in Events, Poetry in Edinburgh.
Tags: Alasdair Gray, Andrew Greig, Aonghas Macneacail, Carol Ann Duffy, Don Paterson, Douglas Dunn, Frances Leviston, Gillian Clarke, Imtiaz Dharkar, Jackie Kay, John Glenday, Kathleen Jamie, Liz Lochhead, Robert Crawford, Rody Gorman, Ron Butlin, Sean O'Brien, WN Herbert
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The Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, is to lead a once-in-a lifetime line-up of award winning Scottish and UK poets in Edinburgh to raise funds for the Haiti earthquake disaster appeal. The event will take place on Sun 28 Feb at 6pm in the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh.

Carol Ann Duffy said “Poetry has the power of prayer and is the place in language where we are most human. The people of Haiti need our humanity right now.”

20 of the foremost poets in the land are coming together for an unforgettable evening of the finest poetry for the most urgent of causes. The event was inspired by the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, and Dundonian Don Paterson, who next month will receive the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. Poets reading on the night include such major literary figures as Alasdair Gray, Douglas Dunn, Jackie Kay, Kathleen Jamie and Sean O’Brien (the only writer to take the UK’s top two poetry awards – the Forward Prize and T S Eliot Prize – in the same year); as well as four UK poets laureate – Liz Lochhead (Glasgow), Ron Butlin (Edinburgh), Gillian Clarke (Wales) and Carol Ann Duffy.

Don Paterson said: “We’ve been completely overwhelmed with the speed and generosity of our colleagues’ response – it should all add up to the most spectacular poetry event ever seen north of the border, and we hope as many people as possible will come along and show their support.”

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has given his full support to the event, describing Carol Ann Duffy as a “visionary humanitarian” and saying ”she has summoned together an amazing array of talent on one day in the service of one hope; a better future for the people of Haiti.”

Booking

The event will take place at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh on Sunday 28th February 2010 6.00pm – 8.00pm. Tickets are £15 or £10 and available from the Queens Hall Box Office on http://www.thequeenshall.net or 0131 668 2019. All participants have generously given their time in order that the proceeds from ticket sales and donations can be passed onto Mercy Corps for the Haiti Earthquake Emergency Appeal.

PARTICIPATING POETS

Ron Butlin               Gillian Clarke           Robert Crawford
Imtiaz Dharkar            Carol Ann Duffy         Douglas Dunn
John Glenday           Rody Gorman            Alasdair Gray
Andrew Greig           WN Herbert            Jackie Kay
Kathleen Jamie            Frances Leviston        Liz Lochhead
Aonghas Macneacail        Sean O’Brien            Don Paterson

STELLA’S STORY: BLUE NIGHT Thursday, 28 January 2010

Posted by edincityoflit in Stories.
Tags: Carol Ann Duffy, Don Paterson, Giorgos Seferis, Mary Oliver, Sean O'Brien
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I have different poems to suit different occasions. Poems, fragments, even lines of poems I keep in my books, notice-board, notebook, iPod, in my heart and head. And I keep renewing them, thanks to the wonderful output of our poets. Last Christmas, I loved Carol Ann Duffy’s poem ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’; last year, for rainy days, I carried Don Paterson’s ‘Rain’; the last few years, Mary Oliver’s ‘Wild Geese’, hearing their ‘harsh and exciting’ cries as a wake up call to the world. For decades, I pondered over Giorgos Seferis’ ‘In the Manner of G.S.’. So many others…
Whenever I need reminding of my place in nature, in the order of things, whenever my expectations become too great, I reach for Sean O’Brien’s ‘Blue Night’. Downloaded from the Guardian, it lights up my computer screen. Therefore. Therefore, I become small, or tall. I draw strength and inspiration. Thank you Sean O’Brien.