Modern Scottish Poetry

In this class expect to become acquainted with the concerns and culture of modern Scotland and to read some passionate Celtic poetry.  Most poems will be in English, some will be translated from Scottish Gaelic and others will be partly or wholly in Scots - a wonderful, colorful language of its own.  The poets we read will cover the sweep of the twentieth century and the geography of Scotland: Orcadians Edwin Muir and George Mackay Brown, Edinburgh and Island poet Norman MacCaig, Fraserburgh-born George Bruce, Gaelic poets Sorley Maclean and Iain Crichton Smith, Scottish Poet Laureate and Glaswegian Edwin Morgan, St Andrew's based poets Douglas Dunn, Robert Crawford and Kathleen Jamie and playright/poet Liz Lochead.  It is not necessary to have participated in the fall 04 class ("Burns and Beyond") to enjoy this course.

Each class will involve brief presentations by the study leader, reading of poetry aloud in class and discussion.

Class is limited to 12 members.

ANNE SHIVAS is a Scot, a poet and a Vermont resident.  She grew up in and received her B.Ed. (Hons) in Edinburgh and her M.A. in philosophy of education in London.  She lived in Jerusalem, Israel for ten years before coming to the Upper Valley.