Donna Matthew: the Paisley poet talks to Claire Elliott

Fresh from her appointment as Makar of the Scottish Women’s Football Association Poetry Society, Donna Matthew discusses her new role and what it means to her to be a Paisley poet with Claire Elliott What would you say your experience has been like living in Paisley? I was born in Paisley, but I grew... 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

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

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