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

Donna Matthew: We Just Thought We Were Superhuman

This poem by Donna Matthew is inspired by An Oral History of Noise and Piecework in Paisley’s Thread Mills by William Burns.   We Just Thought We Were Superhuman Paisley was the mills and the mills were Paisley when childhood was a vast sky of wishes. She walked out of the school gates on... Read More

Passionate Paisley a poem by Elizabeth Van Dyke

Passionate Paisley by Elizabeth Van Dyke There’s a place far away I hope to get there one day Where the streets glisten in the pouring rain From the Lowlands to the Gleniffer Braes The River Cart in all her glory Ancient castles rewind their stories The Buskers, Arts and Town Centre Piazza, pubs, bistros, the... Read More

Delicatessen: a poem by Jacqueline Jay Wilde

Delicatessen by Jacqueline Jay Wilde Because you were smoking We stopped at the door And peered into a cavern Clustered with salami stalactites. The curve of the glass counter Gleamed in the half light, Mirrored shelves and shelves Of Italianate tins and jars And bottles and boxes Stuffed with exotic morsels. The scent of... Read More

Spree for All programme to take over Renfrewshire

Music-lovers across Renfrewshire are set to enjoy a bumper line-up of great gigs in October with the announcement of this year’s Spree for All programme. Established in recent years as a ‘fringe festival’ to Paisley’s annual The Spree festival, the Spree for All will see events take place in towns and villages throughout Renfrewshire... Read More

An Adventure at Gleniffer Braes by Thomas Campbell

Thomas Campbell is an S2 student at Castlehead High School in Paisley, this is his poem, An Adventure at Gleniffer Braes. High on Renfrewshire we walk, On Gleniffer Braes we laugh and talk, At the very top we can see for miles, At the very top you can see our smiles. Our family will... Read More

Through a Child’s Eyes

By Karen Porter Wild winds of wonder crashing sounds of thunder leaves falling from trees the buzzing sounds of bees Picking flowers in the garden watching water freeze and harden raindrops and snow flakes all the sounds animals make Funny faces and silly sounds that’s where laughter is found dark and shadows are intimidating... Read More