The Poems: The Incubus

Title: The Incubus: Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Aberdeen printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen.The cover image is Merlin, an Illustration from 'Le Morte D'Arthur' by Sir Thomas Malory, 1893-94 by Aubrey Beardsley Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall November 2018 Acknowledgements The Hare was published in the Anthology ‘Letters to Animals’ selected and published by Diane Foley, printed by Blurb, 580 California St Ste 300, San Francisco, CA 94104-1024, USA. Haunfast is published in ‘A Year of Scottish Poems, foreword by Jackie Kay, selected by Gaby Morgan, published by Macmillan Children’s books. Janet Paisley 1948-2018 featured as Poem of the Day in The Herald, selected by Lesley Duncan. John Young, Riot, and the Blaik Drummer are all based on true stories in The Black Kalendar of Aberdeen (1746-1978) For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall, visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on-line catalogue of the Nat. Library of Scotland www.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. An interview in podcast form with the poet appears on: http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/connect/podcast/sheena-blackhall Thanks are also due to the encouragement of Malfranteaux Concepts, in agreeing to publish this collection, and to the ongoing support of Philip & Vicki Watt, Fadlydyke New Deer. Copyright Sheena Blackhall December 2018 Dedicated to Philip & Vicki Watt “In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” – Alex Haley

The Owersetts: O Mice & Men

Owersett intae Nor-East Scots by Sheena Blackhall: O Mice & Men by John Steinbeck pub by Evertype 2018. Cover ‘Blue blue bunny’ c. Wendy D. Stolyarov 2009 ISBN-10 1-78201-229-X. With thanks to Michael Everson for bringing this project to fruition

The Poems: Number 6

Title: Number 6 IBSN 978-1-9164544-0-8 Poems in Scots & English Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is of the Temple of the Tooth, Kandy. Acknowledgments For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall, visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on-line catalogue of the Nat. Library of Scotland www.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. An interview in podcast form with the poet appears on: http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/connect/podcast/sheena-blackhall Winter in Buchan is published in Lallans 93. Thanks are also due to Malfranteux Cconcepts for agreeing to publish this collection, and to Gerard Rochford for his support and encouragement c. Sheena Blackhall November 2018

The Poems: Sizzons

Title: Sizzons. Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Malfranteaux Concepts, AberdeenPri nted by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is by Rosy Long, entitled 'A Year in a Sheep Field' Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall October 2o18 Some of these poems were inspired by paintings. Sleekit Mr Tod was written to perform at the Belmont cinema on 15th November, at a showing of Fantastic Mr Fox. Other pieces were written during a research visit to Staffordshire, Newcastle, Sherwood. There are four owersetts into Scots of old Celtic poems. The Icarus Sizzon was published in the 100th and last edition of Poetry Scotland to be edited by Sally Evans. A copy of Tales from the Urals was sent to me by Catriona Low of Severin Publishing. I have owersett two of the tales into Scots, which were translated into English from the Russian by Eve Manning, (The Erne’s Father, and A Dweeble Twig). The remaining two tales are my variations of stories told to me by the late Stanley Robertson, (Slaw Sarah and The Puggie’s Hairt). The cover, A Year in a Sheep Field, is by Rosy Long, a visually impaired artist who lives in Aberdeenshire. She specializes in drawing and painting, her work is inspired by cats and by the picturesque rural surrounding in which she lives; it has developed over time into a love of 3D and bas-relief combined with an enjoyment in visual storytelling. Mixed media are used in all her work often in ceramic paper clay or papier mache. She is quoted as saying ‘I love colour, partly this has to do with my eyes, I sleep at night with the thought of how colours work together and when I get up, it's all about colours working together. I grew up in the West Coast of Scotland with pure bright colour and always stayed with me, this is how I express myself.’ In response to the question of what materials and techniques she uses to create her beautiful and skilful pieces she says: "All the larger papier mache shapes are built from old cardboard with corrugated cardboard gussets. The whole work is painted with wood glue to strengthen it and then primed before it is painted on the collage. The background is acrylic mirror painted with glass paints of Sharpies". For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall, visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on-line catalogue of the Nat. Library of Scotland www.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. An interview in podcast form with the poet appears on: http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/connect/podcast/sheena-blackhall Thanks are also due to Malfranteaux Concepts, in agreeing to publish this collection.Sheena Blackhall October 2018 This pamphlet is dedicated to my grandchildren, Jessica, Winnie, Natalie & Skye

The Owersetts:Fey Case o Dr Jekyll & mR h

A horrifeein tale o fleg that'll bumbaze an dumfouner its readers. Haud awa frae the licht settins o't that ye've seen in films an gaither yer virr tae gyang intae the psycho-logical grue o Jekyll and Hyde. It's in Lunnon that the buik is supposedly set, bit ilkie page is drookit in the oorie air o Embro--far Robert Louis Stevenson wis born. Is't a Freudian fable, a morality parable, or a sexual allegory? Its up tae yersel tae decide.. ISBN 978-1-78204-226-9 published by Evertype, 2018----

The Poems A Sharp Key

Title: A Sharp Key Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is from Todros Geller Woodcuts in Louis Wirth's The Ghetto (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1928). Part of Collection: Faith in the City Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall August 2018 Many of these poems were written during a trip to the Nottingham area. Some poems have been published in Lallans. Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection. Sheena Blackhall 2018

The Poems: Knight, Death & the Devil

Title: Knight, Death and the Devil Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is Knight Death & the Devil by Albrecht Durer Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall August 2018 Many of these poems were written during a writing retreat at the Buddhist centre Dhanakosa in Balquidder.Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection.Sheena Blackhall 2018

The Poems: Poeta est in Silva

Title: Poeta est in Silva, Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is of a Mediaeval hunting scene Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall August 2018 Some of these poems were written during a working trip to Glasgow, to liaise with the poet Sheila Templeton on the book ‘Autumn Voices’. The March Stones were produced during a workshop at Hazlehead Primary studying the boundaries of Aberdeen. Blue Planet Blues was inspired by the Sir David Attenborough film, Blue Planet. Music 2 was commissioned by Aberdeen Performing Arts for a specific project surrounding the Music Hall. (The poems commissioned by various poets will be illustrated as part of the project). Other poems were written during a trip to Rothesay and Dunoon . For the first two years as a secondary pupil, I was taught elementary Latin, but was obliged to drop it to study maths, which I loathed. I loved the fact that the poet was always in the woods. What better place to be? c.Sheena Blackhall August 2018

The Owersetts: The Winnerfu Warlock o Oz

The Poems: Secrets

Secrets: Poems in Scots & English. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen.The cover image is ‘Alone’, by the artist Rosy Long. Cost: £3.00. July 2018 opyright: S. Blackhall July 2018 Two of the owersetts were published in the Aberdeen University magazine Causeway/Cabhsair in May 2018. Two of the Scots poems are to be published in Lallans Magazine. Rosy Long’s cover picture is entitled ‘Alone’. Both poet and artist were school friends. Both were members of the Forecourt Art group and the Aberdeen artist society. Both worked for many years teaching special needs pupils. Rosy is a visually impaired artist who lives in the village of Muchalls. She also has the rare trait of synaesthesia, in her case a strong association between various symbols such as letters of the alphabet on the one hand and clear, well-defined colours on the other. Her work is inspired by cats and by the picturesque rural surroundings in which she lives. She runs the Muchalls drawing group.For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall, visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on-line catalogue of the Nat. Library of Scotland www.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. An interview in podcast form with the poet appears on: http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/connect/podcast/sheena-blackhall. Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection, and to Rosy Long for agreeing to allow the use of her image ‘Alone’ as the cover of Secrets. Of that picture she said: "This is where I ultimately find myself. It is not frightening but rather beautiful".

The Owersetts: Jean Eyre

Jean Eyre: Jane Eyre (By Charlotte Brontë) in North-East Scots. First edition, 2018. Translated into North-East Scots by Sheena Blackhall and Sheila Templeton. Illustrations by X and X. Dundee: Evertype. ISBN 978-1-78201-215-3 (paperback), price: €12.95, £10.95, $15.95. HTML Michael Everson, Evertype. Click on the click for more details. http://evertype.com/books/jane-eyre-sco.html

CHAPTERS ABOUT: Sleeping with Monsters: Conversations with Scottish & Irish Women Poets

Sleeping with Monsters: Conversations with Scottish and Irish Women Poets , 2001, by Rebecca Wilson (Editor), Gillean Somerville (Editor), G. Sommerville-Arjat (Editor) Publisher: Polygon (1999

) ISBN-10: 0748660275

CHAPTERS ABOUT: Spirits of the Age

Spirits of the Age: Scottish Self Portraits Paperback – 19 Aug 2005 by Paul Henderson Scott (Editor). Publisher Saltire Society ISBN-10 0854110879.

Alasdair Gray (one of the contributors to this book) in a memorable phrase once called on the Scots to "work as if you live in the early days of a better nation". Probably there have always been some people in Scotland who have done exactly that, and we are now in a period when there is more opportunity and more need for them. The restoration of the Scottish Parliament, even if it is still drastically limited in its powers, is by its mere existence a demand for a better Scotland. This book brings together some of these, not all but a good cross section, who are helping to build this better nation. They are spirits of the age in literature, painting, sculpture, music, ideas and science. Of course there are other vital activities and we hope to include them in a subsequent volume. Following the good example of Hume, Burns and Walter Scott, the contributors give a brief account of their experiences, influences and objectives. In doing that, they give us a clearer sense of their personalities than any subsequent biographer is likely to achieve. Together they build up a complex picture of contemporary Scotland, and of the opportunities and obstacles which challenge us.

Chapters About: Autumn Voices

Autumn Voices, price ₤12.99, is published by PlaySpace Publications,2018. Between 2015 and 2017 Robin Lloyd-Jones interviewed nineteen Scottish writers over the age of 70 (and himself): Sheena Blackhall, Larry Butler, Jenni Calder, A,C,Clarke, Stewart Conn, Douglas Dunn, Sally Evans, Vicki Feaver, Lee Gershuny, Alasdair Gray, Diana Hendry, Richard Holloway, James Kelman. Carl MacDougall, Bernard MacLaverty, Robin Lloyd-Jones, Alison Prince, Pauline Prior-Pitt, John Purser, Sheila Templeton. The twenty established writers who speak to us through Autumn Voices represent a total of over one hundred and fifty years of varied, fascinating and colourful life experience since passing the age of seventy. All of them show that productivity and creativity can be extended well into later life and provide role models for future generations. These are men and women who see old age as life’s last great adventure and who have chosen to embrace it, to regard it as a new and interesting phase of life, full of possibilities while also accepting the losses age brings with honesty, courage and even humour. Through their lives and their writing they demonstrate qualities, values and attitudes which contribute to successful ageing and continuing creativity. These mature autumn voices speak to us from a point where experience is at its maximum, perspective at its broadest and mastery of craft at its peak. We have much to learn from them.

The Poems: Saying the Unsayable

Saying the Unsayable: poems in Scots and English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Equinox Publishing Printed by Gatehouse Design & Print Agency, RGU, Aberdeen, launched at Aberdeen University’s May Festival, 2018. Many of these poems were written on a week’s retreat at Dhanakosa, Balquidder, entitled Tai Chi, Poetry and Meditation. ‘The Address Remembers’ was the poem of the Day on the website poemhunter.com. The Glasgow based poems were written whilst engaged on the Autumn Voices project. ‘Freedom o the Toun’ was written to perform on National Poetry Day, an open air event arranged by the poet Andy Bisset in Aberdeen. ‘The Street Art Rap’ was written to celebrate the Nuart project, produced and promoted by Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdeen City Council. The Tarland Burn was published in the Cromar History Group’s Magazine.For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall, visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on-line catalogue of the Nat. Library of Scotland www.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. An interview in podcast form with the poet appears on: http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/connect/podcast/sheena-blackhall Thanks are also due to Equinox for commissioning this collection, and in particular to Andy Bisset and Angela Joss for their work in bringing this collection to fruition. It is dedicated to the memory of the late Morven Coutts Blackhall. ‘Guilt is perhaps the most painful companion of death’ Coco Chanel.