Bard is a Four-Letter Word

With National Poetry Day fast approaching, Director of the Scottish Poetry Library Asif Khan talks over some of the challenges faced by professional poets. Also, a heads-up on this months performances and print poetry

Feature by Clare Mulley | 29 Sep 2016

After cultural stints in Bristol and London, Asif Khan is on home turf again as Director of the Scottish Poetry Library, and loving it. “It’s a privilege to be back,” he says. So how does north of the border compare to the rest of the UK? “In terms of the arts, Scots aren’t always appreciative of what they’ve got. There are so many different producers, venues, companies and projects.” Any unexpected highlights so far? “One of the key things I've observed is that in Scotland women are leading the charge of our talented new generation of page poets and spoken word performers,” Khan tells us, adding in the joy of: “Finding out that we [Scottish Poetry Library] are the official home of veggie haggis! Macsween were commissioned to produce it for the SPL opening. Culinary DNA.” It’s certainly not something a lot of libraries can boast.

We go on to talk about the various surprises and conundrums he has been presented with since taking the reins at the Poetry Library, most of which are to do with financial support and the place of poetry in a world which loves definitions and set standards. “So many people are engaged in the literary sector who don’t earn from it; the challenge is mustering support when you don’t have much turnover. The social benefits of being a poet are great, but the living is extremely hard. At what point do you give up and decide to do something else, if things aren’t working out the way you hoped?

“There is a sub-economy in the visual arts which literature doesn’t have. Performance poetry is even more difficult to value, because it is harder to accredit the experience of the writer or determine their professional development process.” I ask about his goals for office, and how he plans to tackle them. “The main thing to consider is how the Poetry Library can continue to support this growing sector, and try to stop the elitist slur whilst still sustaining its monetary value.”

The first steps he has in mind are increasing the library’s engagement with schools and certain ‘boxed’ (i.e. stereotyped) communities, so as to ensure further and more even spreading, and to work on the nation’s ‘footprint’ in the poetry world. “We need to embrace our Scottishness without tipping into the parochial, representing Scotland but making sure to reach beyond the metropole.” He is also currently chewing over how to interact more with semi urban rural areas, which in many cases will mean increasing resources beyond the digital. Politics will be one sure-fire source of material. “Green issues will provide a great channel for the voice and influence of young people.”

What’s On in Scottish Poetry

This autumn is all about fresh starts. One is the brand new poetry and performance project Flint & Pitch; their revue evening of spoken word and music at the Bongo Club, Edinburgh, on 14 Oct will come hot on the heels of their first amazing September showcase of Ire and Salt by producer Jenny Lindsay. As well as regular shows like this, spoken word enthusiasts can look forward to future, bespoke events twinned with other institutions – watch this space!

Old faithfuls on the scene will be glad to know that Ryan Van Winkle’s baby, Golden Hour, has just made a comeback; the first rerun, entitled White was on 24 September, featuring names such as Jo Clifford, Ericka Duffy, Vicki Feaver and Lake Montgomery. The second of this resurgent run is on 30 October at Summerhall, entitled Bone Digger.  Also, for those interested in spoken word and rap with a social and political twist, tickets are now on sale for the Glasgow leg of the phenomenally talented George the Poet’s national tour, which will be on 19 October at the O2 Academy.

Finally, a note to festival-goers: preparations for the Hebridean Book Festival, Faclan (November 2016), are well underway, so it’s a good idea to start making travel plans early. As well as Makar Jackie Kay, this year’s exciting line-up includes Madeleine Bunting, Marion Coutts, Philip Hoare, Nick Abadzis, Amy Liptrot and Malachy Tallack.

In Print

A beautiful, limited edition of The Bastard Brother by Cork born poet Mick Guffan (Tangerine Press) popped through the letterbox this month. In the back, courtesy of The James Joyce Library, University College, Dublin, was a scrap of newspaper with the author’s signature on it, scrawled under a caption for what would have been a photograph of Battersea Power Station. Maybe it was the sudden, coincidental link with familiar surroundings that clinched it (I know Battersea well), but the work itself had a gritty, stark light which seemed to resonate with the greyish urban scapes I see every day. The poems are short, unadorned and written in the type of stark, gruff English which provides its own music, and which echoes most after you put the book down. The topics are also ‘uncomfortable’ – unemployment, Threadneedle Street, emotional breakdowns, sleeping rough – but the fact that they aren’t done melodramatically, just stated with a quiet sense of resigned desolation, gives them a depth and poignancy that might not otherwise have been possible.

The Scottish Poetry Library is at 5 Crichton's Close, Canongate, Edinburgh, and open to visit Tue, Wed & Fri 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-4pm Tickets and information on Flint & Pitch are at flintandpitch.com More information can be found on The Golden Hour at thegoldenhourevent.com The Bastard Brother is out now, published by Tangerine Press, RRP £25 http://scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk