The Poems: The Cloud Collector.Poems & Tale in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Copyright: S. Blackhall June 2015. The cover is a copy of a work made from a commercial plaster reproduction of the death mask of the French Emperor Napoleon by Rene Magritte. Magritte painted at least five of these casts, each with sky and clouds. Discussing the works, the artist’s friend the Surrealist poet Paul Nougé suggested an association between death, dreams and the depth of the sky. He commented: ‘a patch of sky traversed by clouds and dreams [can] transfigure the very face of death in a totally unexpected way’. (Tate Gallery). To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, two large re-enactments were organized to relive one of the greatest moments of recent European history. On June 21st 2015, there was a procession of the French and Allied cavalry in Waterloo and Braine-l’Alleud. Flowers were placed at the St Etienne of Braine l’Alleud Church and the Royal Chapel of Waterloo. For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall, visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on-line catalogue of the Nat. Library of Scotland ww.nls.uk/catalogues/online/index/html. All of Blackhall’s poems in Scots and English are now uploaded on www.poemhunter.com. Her website can be found on http://smiddleton4.wix.com/sheena-blackhall. The poem Shakespeare will be published in a Forward Poetry Anthology The tale ‘The Burnin Buss’, is published in Lallans 86. Many of these poems were written during a week’s Residential Writing Course at the Triratna Centre, Dhanakosa, Balquhidder. (5 June to 12 June) Wolf At The Door: Rewilding the Human Space - a writing course led by Ananda and Vishvantara with Dharmavadana using the practice of writing, ritual, and group meditation. Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection.
