The Deceit: A poem by Bobby Motherwell

The Deceit by Bobby Motherwell They rise from the scrapes like windblown leaves, a deceit of sixty plus Lapwings. From white to black they flicker in flight. Pages of flip art motion. Escapees against a smothering sky. They mesmerise. Daring me to distraction to Goosander and Widgeon and Great Crested Grebe bobbing nearby. Spiralling... Read More

Thomas Barbour: Paisley Popular Poet

Brian Hannan, local author and manager of Abbey Books in Paisley, takes a look at the work of Paisley’s Thomas Barbour Thomas Barbour achieved local fame in unusual fashion. His poems were exclusively published during his lifetime by the Paisley Daily Express. And he wasn’t living in Paisley at the time, so his works... Read More

The Big Fish of Galilee – a poem by Ross McWhinnie

The Big Fish of Galilee – a poem by Ross McWhinnie Spare a thought for people lost between the lines, unmarked on the Bible page gauged unworthy to make that great geography of names and shames that frame the stories kept. Think a moment on the ferment felt by Lazarus’ undertaker, robbed of his... Read More

Both Ends Against the Middle – a poem by Mairi Murphy

Both Ends Against the Middle by Mairi Murphy Mothers knit the streets together: picking up dropped stitches of the careworn darning tears, dispensing gallus compassion, doling out rampant favouritism – cheeky bisoms shouting the odds, one slap fits all. Everyone named, everyone known, doors open, falling out, falling in, swinging lampposts, chalking beds, deliberate... Read More

Shaun Moore – Tannahill Makar and spoken word artist

Just weeks on from his appointment as Tannahill Makar, Mill caught up with spoken word artist Shaun Moore to discuss his new role, Renfrewshire’s radical heritage and more.  When it’s done right and without airs, graces or elitism, poetry and spoken word has the capacity to effect and advocate for change, broaden horizons and... Read More

Oak Tree Writers poem – The Best Shop in Paisley

The Best Shop in Paisley, written by The Oak Tree Writers Club (ages 12+), Aaron McWilliams, Emily Head, Leo Whaley, Murray McGeoch & Sophie Watt. Paisley, full of wonderful shops, But one stands out from all the rest. Some others think they’re better, But this one is the best. I love all of the cakes,... Read More

The Mystery of Ward 18 – a poem by Rosalinda Millar

The Mystery of Ward 18 by Rosalinda Millar The lights were dimmed As sister made her round Drowsy patients safely snuggled down Beyond the window with gentle sighs The whispering wind sang a lullaby. Gently, gently, the door clicked shut Then Sister stiffened – What! Oh Mercy! what is that? A rumbling grumbling thunderous... Read More

Colour Theory book launch with poet Lorna Callery-Sithole

Renfrewshire-based Poet, Lorna Callery-Sithole is releasing her second poetry collection, Colour Theory, published by Dreich, having won the Dreich Full Collection Award earlier this year. Colour Theory begins with Fierce, the last poem in Callery-Sithole’s debut collection Pigeon with Warburtons, (Speculative Books, 2019), which documents her eldest daughter’s first experience of racism at the... Read More

Mammy Roon thi Firepit by Michael Mullen

Mammy Roon thi Firepit by Michael Mullen During the days of lockdown I was going through a drought of inspiration. My neighbour was barbecuing for her whole family and it was something so simple yet very powerful. I wanted to create an ode to something as mundane and beautiful as a Mother and her... Read More

Tracy Patrick: Braw Lads Are Marching Awa

Elderslie-born author Tracy Patrick launches a collection of poems from World War One penned by Renfrewshire soldiers next month at Abbey Books in Paisley. Titled Braw Lads Are Marching Awa, Brian Hannan from Abbey Books caught up with her to find out more… Can you tell me why you came to do this book?  The book... Read More