Breathe and See
Breath. Breath. Breathe and see. The crisp light behind the clouds makes my eyes water. They travel down to where this light is cut off, sharp and swift. Tiles and stone take up my view, shades of grey on this dreary day. So many windows, so many portals into so many lives. I wonder if they’re watching me too. Do they see my eyes through the trees? Or am I obscured by the series of twists and turns their branches make? A postal van is parked below, the worker picking up packages he’s dropped. I wonder where he’ll go. I wish I was his passenger, just for one day. mina lakapawa nina I see you
Priobadh
Fo ghlas nan sgòth ’s nan sluagh an Alba dhorch na Dùbhlachd sa bhaile fhaileasach, fo chùram, is gach nì air a dhol tuathal; mi sgapte bho chàirdean ’s luchd-eòlais labhradh rium an cainnt mo sheanar mo Ghàidhlig nam bheul mar leacan gun lùths a’ chleachdaidh no a ceòl ann. Nochd solas ur sealladh mar theine mar fìor-lasadh a’ ghealbhain àlainn, sealladh achadh dhachaighean làna iomadh bheatha, eachdraidh, ’s teang’ ann; a charaid, tha dòchas anns a’ bheachd g’ eil Earrach, an àiteigin, ri teachd.
A Flicker
nina lakapawa mina You see me mina kani nina manta I speak to you from far away krakani rrala karati-mana Stay strong my friend By Kartanya Maynard In partnership with Ten Days on the Island festival, Tasmania. Kartanya Maynard on palawa kani: “palawa kani is the language Tasmanian Aboriginal people now speak. It is our revised language that years and years of research has gone into from the pieces of our original languages that had been recorded.” ‘Breathe and See’ and ‘Priobadh’ were commissioned by StAnza for this year’s WindowSwap installation.
The clouds spin a deadbolt, a lockdown over a Scotland black December in this ghost cloaked burgh, bearing it, and it’s all up the left for now; I’m spread from my friends and allies who’d reach me in my Grandpa’s tongue my Gàidhlig in my mouth a dolmen wanting use’s looseness and jive. But your scene’s light leapt like fire like the pure burning beauty of the hearth a fieldful of homes fit to burst with languages, histories, lives; my friend, there is hope in the idea that spring is somewhere, and heading here.
Tickets
20216–14 Online Festival March St Andrews
Poetry on Windows
Poetry on windows around St Andrews, and as far afield as Mull and Thurso
No ticket is required to access events listed as ‘Watch online’ or ‘Listen online’, which can be enjoyed for free on the relevant event page at www.stanzapoetry.org.
Supported by St Andrews Community Trust
Children’s Poetry Trail from Jane Yolen
Tickets for ‘Live on Zoom’ ticketed and free/ticketed events can be booked online at the Box Office. A Zoom link will be sent by email to those who have booked a ticket for these events.
A poetry trail from one of America’s best loved children’s writers Fri 5 March–Sun 14 March | 10:00–16:00 St Andrews Botanic Gardens No charge for the Poetry Trail. Entrance charges to the Botanic Gardens: £6/£5/children go free. Entrance is free for all on Friday 5 March.
We regret that we are not able to proceed with any in-person events at this time. Most events have been moved online and we hope to offer two postponed exhibitions and an outdoor reading at a later date.
In association with St Andrews Botanic Gardens and supported by St Andrews Community Trust
Lecture, Masterclass and Poetry Breakfast Discussions: these will be in two parts – Part I streamed online followed by a live Zoom Q&A Part II Booksales: J & G Innes Ltd are StAnza booksellers and stock a wide range of books by festival poets offered online for StAnza 2021 at: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/jginnes Access: Most events marked as ‘Watch online’ will be captioned and the lecture will have BSL interpretation. Festival Café: StAnza’s online ‘festival café’ will be open on Zoom as a place to catch up with old friends online and chat, and to make new friends. No need to book a place, just drop in during the festival cafe opening hours. Find these and the Zoom link and password, on our website at www.stanzapoetry.org/festival/events/festival-cafe-zoom
StAnza Box Office: www.byretheatre.com/whats-on See also: www.stanzapoetry.org/how-book Online booking only for 2021 Booking enquiries: boxoffice@stanzapoetry.org Communications: enquiries@stanzapoetry.org Visit our website at www.stanzapoetry.org Follow us on Twitter: @StAnzaPoetry Facebook: www.facebook.com/stanzapoetry StAnza Blog: www.stanzapoetry.org/blog Instagram: www.instagram.com/stanzapoetry Extra brochures: 07391 247661 or brochure@stanzapoetry.org
w w w . s t a n z a p o e t r y. o r g
Photo credits:
Sophie Davidson, Suki Dhanda, Ayesha Dharker, Henry Nicholls, Moses Baako, Brian Cornelius, Tomasz M. Radej and Carlo Pizzati
By Robbie MacLeòid, English translation by Calum MacLeòid
Online Exhibitions, Commissioned Poems, Games, Digital Installations Sat 6 March – Wed 31 March Where are the birds taking me? Nine prints of birds by Lisa Hooper, with poems by Ken Cockburn In partnership with Wigtown Book Festival
StAnza Before the Storm (Online) From the sketchbook of Katrine Lyck, StAnza’s 2020/21 artist in residence Children’s Poetry Trail from Jane Yolen An online poetry trail from one of America’s best loved children’s writers 250 Days of Covid Clive Birnie narrates his experience of Long Covid using a collage of fragments Big Riches in Little Rooms A poetry game created by Calum Rodger Bookart from Rachel Hazell A poetic project to make at home Sponsored by The Travelling Bookbinder
Choose Your Own Adventure! A guided poetic tour of St Andrews from Hannah Raymond-Cox Concrete Scotland Greg Thomas reflects on Scottish poetry and the concrete poetry movement 14
I’MMACULATE Textual play, with words by Kate Tough and images by Mariana Parisca Makar/Unmakar A showcase of the Tapsalteerie anthology Instagram Poetry for Every Day A range of contemporary visual poetry curated by Chris McCabe In association with the National Poetry Library at the Southbank Centre
Make It New New poems commissioned by StAnza respond to unlikely machines
In association with St Andrews University’s Wardlaw Museum
No Rhyme nor Reason New poems commissioned by StAnza respond to the weird and wonderful
In association with St Andrews University’s Wardlaw Museum
Nonsense! Commissioned poems meet nonsense verse In partnership with HappenStance Press
THIS An interactive poetry reading, created by Steve Smart and Rebecca Sharp StAnza commission supported by Book Week Scotland
WindowSwap Newly commissioned poems inspired by the WindowSwap project
In association with WindowSwap, Modern Poetry in Translation, Ten Days on the Island (Tasmania) and Book Arsenal Kyiv, with support from the European Cultural Foundation
Almost Poetry St Andrews as never seen before
StAnza^ƚ ŶnjĂ ŝƐ ŐƌĂƚĞĨƵů ĨŽƌ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĨƌŽŵ is grateful for support from
Exhibit Browse the University’s Special Collections
Welcome to StAnza 2021! During a glorious week of companionship last March, we had little idea of the challenges ahead. Like everyone else, StAnza has had to respond and adapt. Throughout the pandemic, though, people have turned to poetry for consolation and inspiration, and with StAnza 2021 we explore the profound relevance of the artform. Here’s just a snapshot of our largely digital programme:
In association with the Library of the University of St Andrews
Resolve to Make it New Crowd sourced poetry and images on mending
In partnership with Fife Contemporary
Dig It Commissioned poetry on archaeology In association with Dig It
Films and Sound Installations Poetry Loops A selection of filmpoems
In partnership with the Czech Literary Centre, the Gaelic Books Council and Wigtown Book Festival
A Plague of Poems Hugh McMillan curates a short edition of his lockdown summer project Bàrd – File – Bardd Showcasing the Welsh, Irish and Scots Gaelic filmpoem project In association with Bàrd – File – Bardd and supported by Llenyddiaeth Cymru / Literature Wales
From Bad to Verse A film about Scotland’s self-styled worst poet Collective Amnesia Sound, music and poetry from Koleka Putuma Trafika Europe ‘Wolf One-Eye’ by Juris Kronbergs, from the Trafika Europe Radio sound archives
Inspire Sessions
Small print: StAnza reserves the right to change or amend all or any events. StAnza reserves the right to refuse admission and not to admit late arrivals. Refunds cannot be given except in the case of cancellation of the event or of any of the participants. StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry Festival is a private company limited by guarantee and registered under the Companies Acts, registered no. SC253342. It is recognised by the Inland Revenue as a Scottish Charity, charity no. SC 031789 and by OSCR the Scottish Charities Regulator. Covid-19: StAnza 2021 will take place mostly or entirely virtually. In-person events or exhibitions in our programme depend on government regulations and guidance in force for the period of the festival. If these take place, they will be delivered in association with venues or partners who are committed to being fully Covid-19 safe and Covid-19 compliant. All members of the public should observe and comply with appropriate social distancing, mask wearing, hand sanitising and other hygiene precautions. However, and notwithstanding the foregoing, any engagement with in-person events at StAnza is undertaken by members of the public at their own risk. StAnza cannot accept any liability in respect of Covid-19 safety compliance by poets and others, members of the public or any incidence of infection amongst those choosing to engage with our in-person events.
15
• A celebration of poetry from around the world inc. USA, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Latvia, North Macedonia, Poland, Lithuania, Australia, Georgia, Spain and Singapore • Headliners including Adam Zagajewski, Naomi Shihab Nye, Maria Stepanova, Jericho Brown, Valzhyna Mort, Tim Liardet, Ilya Kaminsky, Raymond Antrobus, Imtiaz Dharker, Tishani Doshi, Inua Ellams, Roger McGough and Roger Robinson • The StAnza 2021 lecture from Jacqueline Saphra, a range of workshops and a Colette Bryce masterclass • Rab Wilson’s Big Braw Cosmos • The StAnza slam and various open mic sessions • Themes: Make it New and No Rhyme nor Reason • Beyond the Iron Curtain: a translated language focus to mark the 30th anniversary of the end of the Soviet bloc • Exhibitions, installations, games, film and music • Enjoy poetry offline too, with window stickers, postcards and our poetry hotline • Lively lunchtime Poetry Café sessions • Meet old friends and make new ones at our informal virtual Byre café on Zoom
readings
spoken word
To prompt your creativity, we hope you’ll find inspiration at our online Inspire sessions at 12 noon each day 7 – 14 March
Dial-a-Poem
A telephone hotline for poetry from 15 January to 31 March Fancy having a poem read to you? Dial 07391 247661– but check your provider’s call charges first!
Poetry Windows
Help us make a window for poetry across Scotland and beyond, by sharing one of our vinyl self-cling poems on a window of your choice.
Postcards to Poetry
When you cannot come to StAnza, poetry can still come to you; we’re sending postcards with newly commissioned poems by snail mail. If you would like us to send a poetry postcard or vinyl window poem to you or someone else, email stanza@stanzapoetry.org with a name and address and either ‘Poetry Windows’ or ‘Poetry Postcards’ in the subject line (available as long as stocks last). Most events will be offered on a Pay-What-You-Can basis. Events marked ‘Watch online’ will be captioned. Most of these events will remain online until 31 March, so you have plenty of time to enjoy them! See online listings for more information on this.
talks
interactive
other
Saturday 6th
Sunday 7th
Monday 8th
Tuesday 9th
Wednesday 10th
Thursday 11th
Friday 12th
Saturday 13th
Sunday 14th
Eco Poetry: the Political and the Personal
Poetry and Meditation
Meet the Artist
Meet the Artist
Meet the Artist
Past & Present
Poets at Home
Breakfast at the Poetry Café: Make It New
Breakfast at the Poetry Café: Translation
Join our first writing workshop for StAnza 2021, led by Marvin Thompson • Live on Zoom Sat 6 March | 14:30–16:00 | £10 In association with Poetry Wales
Festival Launch Extravaganza Enjoy a sneak peek of some of the highlights of StAnza 2021 • Watch online Sat 6 March | 19:00–20:00 | FREE
Readings and meditation from John Siddique to start the day • Live on Zoom Sun 7 March | 10:30–11:30 Free/Ticketed
The StAnza Masterclass
Led by Colette Bryce • Part I Watch online • Part II Live on Zoom Sun 7 March | 12:00–13:10 | FREE
In association with Ten Days on the Island (Tasmania, Australia) and supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews and the Edwin Morgan Trust
Masterclass: Watch Part I, a filmed conversation between Colette Bryce and the selected Masterclass poets, on the event page, before joining the discussion in Part II.
StAnza 2021 Launch Party
Oor Big Braw Cosmos
Join our Zoom party to celebrate the festival launch, with an open mic breakout room • Live on Zoom Sat 6 March | 20:00–21:00 | FREE Colette Bryce
Cosmic science, poetry and imagery with Rab Wilson • Watch online Sun 7 March | 16:00–17:00 | FREE This event is supported by the Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature fund
A Tribute: Roddy Lumsden
Poets and friends celebrate the life and work of a son of St Andrews • Live on Zoom Sun 7 March | 18:30–20:00 Free/Ticketed In association with Bloodaxe Books
Raymond Antrobus
Join Marina Kazakova to learn about her work on symphonic poetry • Live on Zoom Mon 8 March | 12:30–13:00 Free/Ticketed
Old English for Poets
A workshop on variation and alliteration led by Chris Jones • Live on Zoom Mon 8 March | 14:00–15:30 | £10
Chris McCabe, Astra Papachristodoulou and Jinhao Xie talk about Instagram poetry • Live on Zoom Tue 9 March | 12:30–13:00 Free/Ticketed In association with the National Poetry Library, the Southbank Centre
In association with Bàrd – File – Bardd and supported by Llenyddiaeth Cymru / Literature Wales
Round Table
Worth a thousand words
Supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
A special session with Imtiaz Dharker • Live on Zoom Tue 9 March | 15:30–16:15 | £7
Poems Aloud
Poets at Home
St Andrews University Library Poetry Recitation Competition • Live on Zoom Mon 8 March | 16:00–17:00 Free/Ticketed Presented in partnership with the University of St Andrews Library
Poets at Home
Ella Frears introduces us to her writing process • Watch online Mon 8 March | 17:30–17:45 | FREE
Translating Poetries
Readings from poets and translators shortlisted for the Sarah Maguire Prize • Watch online Mon 8 March | 19:30–20:30 | FREE In partnership with the Poetry Translation Centre
Imtiaz Dharker
Ifor ap Glyn, Peter Mackay, Ciara ní É and Pól Mag Uidhir talk about ‘Bàrd – File – Bardd’ • Live on Zoom Wed 10 March | 12:30–13:00 Free/Ticketed
Notebooks and word documents with Will Harris • Watch online Tue 9 March | 17:00–17:10 | FREE
Found in translation: from StAnza to Skopje
Poets from the UK and North Macedonia launch this collaborative translation project • Live on Zoom Tue 9 March | 17:30–18:30 Free/Ticketed In partnership with Ex Libris International Poetry Festival Skopje and supported by the British Council Literature’s Working Internationally Grant Programme
Past & Present: Edwin Morgan
StAnza’s regular Past & Present strand goes audio with Free Vers(e) • Listen online Tue 9 March | 18:30–19:15 | FREE In partnership with Free Vers(e)
Poetry Centre Stage
Reading: Naomi Shihab Nye, Tim Liardet • Watch online Tue 9 March | 19:30–20:30 | FREE Supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
Inua Ellams
A poetry workshop with Nadine Aisha Jassat, responding to photographer Franki Raffles • Live on Zoom Wed 10 March | 14:00–15:30 | £10 In partnership with Special Collections at the University of St Andrews and the Wardlaw Museum
Poets at Home
Out on the downs with poet and translator Sasha Dugdale • Watch online Wed 10 March | 15:30–15:45 | FREE
The Last Model
A showcase of Latgalian poetry, with Ligija Purinaša, Raibīs and Jayde Will • Watch online Wed 10 March | 16:30–17:15 | FREE Supported by the Latvian Literature Platform
Poetry Centre Stage
Reading: Adam Zagajewski, Russell Jones • Watch online Wed 10 March | 19:30–20:30 | FREE Supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
Tim Liardet
Rob A. Mackenzie on Miroslav Holub; Helena Nelson on Ruth Pitter’s light verse • Watch online Thu 11 March | 11:00–12:00 | FREE Supported by the Czech Literary Centre
Poetry Walk
Join Helen Boden for a virtual poetry walk along the Fife Coastal Path • Watch online Thu 11 March | 13:00–14:00 | FREE In association with Fife Coastal Path and supported by St Andrews Community Trust
Round Table
An intimate audience with T.S. Eliot prize-winner Roger Robinson • Live on Zoom Thu 11 March | 14:00–14:40 | £7
The StAnza Lecture: Access All Areas (BSL-interpreted) Jacqueline Saphra on form and revolution • Part I Watch online • Part II Q&A Live on Zoom Thu 11 March | 16:00–17:00 | FREE
Past & Present: Annette von Droste-Hülshoff
StAnza’s regular Past & Present strand goes audio with The Dead Ladies Show • Live on Zoom Thu 11 March | 18:00–18:30 Free/Ticketed In partnership with The Dead Ladies Show and Burg Hülshoff Centre for Literature
Poetry Centre Stage »
Reading: Raymond Antrobus, Volha Hapeyeva • Watch online Thu 11 March | 19:30–20:30 | FREE Supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
Between the Covers »
Round off your day with poetry from Larry Butler • Listen online Thu 11 March | 22:00–22:15 | FREE
Caroline Bird introduces us to her writing setup • Watch online Fri 12 March | 8:30–8:45 | FREE
Poetry Café: Ink Asher Hemp
Lunchtime spoken word from an exciting new voice on the Scottish scene • Watch online Fri 12 March | 13:00–13:30 | FREE
Wake up and smell the poetry • Part I Watch online • Part II Q&A Live on Zoom Sat 13 March | 10:00–11:15 | FREE
Poetry Walk
Join Beth McDonough for a virtual poetry walk around Tentsmuir • Watch online Sat 13 March | 11:30–12:30 | FREE In association with Tentsmuir Nature Reserve and supported by St Andrews Community Trust
Round Table
A special session with Tishani Doshi • Live on Zoom Fri 12 March | 14:00–14:45 | £7
Poetry Centre Stage
Reading: Mona Kareem, Michael Grieve • Watch online Fri 12 March | 17:00–18:00 | FREE Supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
Past & Present
StAnza goes audio with the New Caribbean Voices podcast • Listen online Fri 12 March | 18:00–18:30 | FREE In partnership with Peepal Tree Press
Poetry Café: Courtney Conrad
Lunchtime poetry from a BBC slam finalist • Watch online Sat 13 March | 13:00–13:30 | FREE
Poets at Home
In the hammock with Malika Booker • Watch online Sat 13 March | 13:30–13:45 | FREE
Beyond Any Curtain
Myroslav Laiuk, Lyuba Yakimchuk, Roseanne Watt & Andrew Blair launch our Scottish/Ukrainian translation project • Live on Zoom Sat 13 March | 14:00–15:00 Free/Ticketed In partnership with the International Book Arsenal Festival, Kyiv, Ukraine
Poetry Centre Stage
Reading: Jericho Brown, Jonathan Edwards • Watch online Fri 12 March | 19:30–20:30 | FREE Supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
Risk a Verse Our Friday night open mic goes digital • Live on Zoom Fri 12 March | 21:00–22:00 Free/Ticketed
Poetry Pie
Poetry al fresco with Gordon Meade • Watch online Sun 14 March | 11:30–12:00 | FREE Supported by St Andrews Community Trust
Poetry Café: Desree
Fiery spoken word from Desree • Watch online Sun 14 March | 13:00–13:30 | FREE
Poetry Market
Presses big and small, pamphlets, magazines • Live on Zoom & Digital Installation Sun 14 March | 14:30–15:15 | FREE
Poetry Centre Stage
Reading: Christopher Whyte, Jane Frank • Watch online Sun 14 March | 16:00–17:00 | FREE In partnership with Wigtown Book Festival and supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
Poetry Centre Stage »
Supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
Reading: Maria Stepanova with translator Sasha Dugdale, alongside Aileen Ballantyne • Watch online Sat 13 March | 16:00–17:00 | FREE
Between the Covers »
Poetry Centre Stage
Reading: Ilya Kaminsky, Inua Ellams • Watch online Sat 13 March | 19:30–20:30 | FREE Supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
The StAnza Slam
Spoken word with an edge, with MC Hannah Raymond-Cox • Live on Zoom Sat 13 March | 21:00–22:00 Free/Ticketed To take part in the slam, email your name and phone number to works@stanzapoetry.org Please note that places are limited.
Between the Covers Desree
Poetry in the Garden
Poetry Centre Stage
Supported by the School of English at the University of St Andrews
Jericho Brown
In partnership with Modern Poetry in Translation and the Czech Literary Centre
Roger McGough in a special event for children • Watch online Sat 13 March | 14:00–14:20 | FREE
In association with St Mungo’s Mirrorball
Poetry at bedtime from Sheila Templeton • Listen online Fri 12 March | 22:00–22:15 | FREE
Translators discuss transposing poetry from Slavic languages • Part I Watch online • Part II Q&A Live on Zoom Sun 14 March | 10:00–11:00 | FREE
Poetry at bedtime with Rachel Long • Listen online Sat 13 March | 22:00–22:15 | FREE
Reading: Colette Bryce, Valzhyna Mort • Watch online Sun 14 March | 19:30–20:30 | FREE
Festival Finale
Party out the festival to music from Claire Hastings • Live on Zoom Sun 14 March | 20:30–21:30 | FREE
Tishani Doshi