The Poems: The Wylde Cattie

Acknowledgements. Title: The Wylde Cattie (Pamphlet no 196) Front Cover : Wild Cat 2 by the Muchalls Artist Rosy Long Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright: Sheena Blackhall January 2024 Cauld Yule appeared in an article on Xmas Memories by Neil Drysdale in the P & J on December 23rd. Transport was the Doric Column in the P & J’s December 16th issue. Countesswells was written after two day visits to the area. For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on line catalogue of the National Library of Scotland www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/index/html. All of Blackhall’s poems in Scots & 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 due to Malfranteaux Concept for publishing this volume. January 2024 Limited print run of 50 copies

Title: The Japanese Funeral et al (Pamphlet no 195) Front Cover : Japanese Funeral (Wellcome Collection) Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright Sheena Blackhall December 2023 Cover : Japanese Funeral Customs : The Cortège leaves the Dead Man’s House on the way to the Temple: watercolour 1880. Part of the Wellcome Collection 5657931. A Buddhist monk carrying a parasol leads the cortège; the palanquin, flanked by containers of leafy plants, is carried by four attendants; two men walk alongside the palanquin, holding aloft a slender yellow or gold (?) bow or arch; three men dressed in samurai costumes follow the palanquin; two women and a child weep as the cortège passes; a kneeling man watches from the verandah.Acknowledgements The poem Xmas Blues was written to perform at Aberdeen VSA’s event at the Salvation Army Citadel on Dec 13th. of 50 copies. Sheena Blackhall copyright December 2023

The Poems: The Abbot o Unreason

Acknowledgements Title: The Abbot o Unreason (Pamphlet no 194) Front Cover : Mediaeval floor tile from the Derby Black Friary, showing a triumphant hunting hare mounted on a dog.Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright Sheena Blackhall November 2023 The poem The Auld Fowks’ Hame will be published in Best Scottish Online Anthology 2022. Fit Wye Nae was inspired by the theme for the 2004 Doric film festival given by Frieda Morrison. Limited edition of 50

The Poems: The Mithers

Acknowledgements Title: The Mithers (Pamphlet no 193)Front Cover : The Mothers from a woodcut in 1922 by Käthe Kollwitz: Die Mütter Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow October 2023 Limited print run of 50 copies. Thanks are due to Malfranteaux Concept for publishing this volume. Sheena Blackhall copyright October 2023 Some of these poems were written to perform at Aberdeen University’s Wayword Festival, 19/9/23 at the Blue Lamp. Others were inspired by Art work in Aberdeen’s Art Fair at Aberdeen’s Music Hall (Sept 1-3 20230. Still more were written on a research tour of the Loch Lomond National Park.

The Poems: The Lobster

Acknowledgements:Title:The Lobster(Pamphlet no 192) Front Cover : Copy of The Lobster Telephone by Salvador Dali (1938)Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright: Sheena Blackhall For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on line catalogue of the National Library of Scotland www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/index/html. All of Blackhall’s poems in Scots & 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 due to Malfranteaux Concept for publishing this volume. Copyright September 2023 Limited print run of 50 copies

The Poems: Kye Gaun Hame

Acknowledgements:Title: Kye Gaun Hame (Pamphlet no 191) Cover : The Return of the Herd, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, 1565 Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright: Sheena Blackhall Some of the poems in this collection were written to perform at The Wee Gaitherin, in Stonehaven, 40+ Poets from Scotland and farther afield. (Poetry readings and performances in English, Scots and Gaelic.) Poetry • Music • Workshops Book Stalls • Publishers Fair.The Wee Gaitherin strives to be the most democratic poetry festival in Scotland, offering a platform for poets – from the unknown to the acclaimed – to showcase their work on an equal footing. Their motto of ‘Turn up, tune in, take part’ reflects the inclusive ethos of the festival, which encourages participation from all marginalised and traditionally under-represented sections of society.Thanks are due to Malfranteaux Concept for publishing this volume. Copyright August 2023 Limited print run of 50 copies

The Poems : Young Quine Dreamin

Acknowledgements Title: Young Quine Dreamin (Pamphlet no 190) Front Cover : artist Jessica Blackhall, born 2011 Back Cover: ‘Ice Cream at the Theatre,’ by Winnie Blackhall born 2012 Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright: Sheena Blackhall The Gype was commissioned by the Aberdeen Artist Charlie Hynes, for an upcoming exhibition of his work in Salem, Oregon, USA. The poem is based on his drawing In the Belly of the Whale. Blackhall told the tale of The Hennie to the Confucius Institute at an event held by them at Aberdeen University. The Dream o the Restless Bairnickie appeared in Norlan Lichts, New Poems in Scots from the North East, published by Rymour. In the review in Northwords Now, by Alistair Lawrie, the collection was well received:‘By its nature, indeed its very existence, this collection of poems… sets out to be a significant moment for Doric and indeed Scots poetry. It succeeds.’ Flooers was inspired by the poem Two Flags by Albert Thomson. The poem Ronnie Watt is to be published in the Knights of the Most Holy Trinity’s magazine. The Yalla Ribbon was told as a stimulus in the Creative Writing class for 8-12s run by Sheena Blackhall at Aberdeen Arts Centre, and at Glen Esk Heritage Museum in a storytelling session for the general public.Thanks are due to Malfranteaux Concept for publishing this volume.Sheena Blackhall copyright July 2023 This is a Limited Edition of 50

The Poems: Pigging Out

Acknowledgements:Title: Pigging Out(Pamphlet no 189)Front Cover : royalty free image from the internet Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright: Sheena Blackhall June 2023 Limited print run of 50 copies For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on line catalogue of the National Library of Scotland www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/index/html. All of Blackhall’s poems in Scots & 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 due to Malfranteaux Concept for publishing this volume. Sheena Blackhall copyright June 2023

The Poems: Muninn & Huginn Pamphlet 188

Title: Muninn & Huginn (Pamphlet no 188) Front Cover : a photo from a Vendel era helmet Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright: Sheena Blackhall May 2023 Limited print run of 50 copies Acknowledgements In Norse myth, Huginn (Old Norse, thought) and Muninn (Old Norse, memory) are the two ravens that fly all over the world and bring back information to the god Odin. Odin only drank wine and spoke only in poetry.For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on line catalogue of the National Library of Scotland www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/index/html. All of Blackhall’s poems in Scots & 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 due to Malfranteaux Concept for publishing this volume.Sheena Blackhall copyright May 2023

The Poems: Baa/Humbug

Title: Baa Humbug (Pamphlet no 187) Front Cover : on-line photo of a bumble bee Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright: Sheena Blackhall April 2023 Limited print run of 50 copies The Soutar’s Shop was written after a visit with members of the confraternity of the Knights of the Most Holy Trinity, arranged by Grand Prior Albert Thomson. to the Soutar’s Shop at Ballogie where we were met by Toni Watt, manager of Birse Community Trust (BCT), the organisation responsible for the building. The shop is the only one of its type left in Scotland. The poem was published in the Knights of the Most Holy Trinity’s magazine, issue 62 of The Northern Light. Birse Community Trust became the owner of this historic soutar’s shop in 1999. It was built in 1896 by James Merchant on a croft in Ballogie and he continued his soutar’s business there until his death in 1941. The Soutar’s Shop is a remarkable ‘time capsule’.Most of the poems were written during a 5 day tour of the Caledonian national Park. Some of the poems were inspired by brief entries in A Dictionary of Scottish Phrase and Fable, by Ian Crofton, pub. by Birlinn, 2016, Edinburgh ISBN 978-1- 78027-428-7.The six short bairn rhymes at the end were written as part of a programme of 6 visits to Aberdeenshire libraries, funded by the Doric Board, for much thanks. Copyright April 2023

The Poems: The Devil's Pulpit

Title: The Devil’s Pulpit, Finnich Glen (Pamphlet no 186)Front Cover : on-line photo of the scene Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright: Sheena Blackhall March 2023 Limited print run of 50 copies.The Enemy Inside was commissioned by Asif Khan of the Scottish Poetry Library which is partnering with Parkinson's UK Scotland to mark World Parkinson’s Day on 11 April. It will be published on their social media platforms.Ukraine was written after a dinner with the confraternity of the Knights of the Most Holy Trinity, hosted by Grand Prior Albert Thomson, where two Ukrainian guests, Mariya Pavlova and Inna MacLeod, related stories of the suffering in their homeland. They have set up an Association of Ukrainians in Aberdeen. 2,000 refugees from Ukraine have now settled in the city. The poem was published in the Knights of the Most Holy Trinity’s magazine, issue 61 of The Northern Light. Overheard at Wetherspoons and Bullied was published in the anthology Tales Frae the Doric Side, a collaboration between spoken word artist and writer Jo Gilbert, The Friends of Elphinstone, and the Elphinstone Institute at the University of Aberdeen. It was funded by Aberdeen City Council Creative Funding. The anthology was published through Doric Books – a community interest company dedicated to promoting NE Scots. CEO Jackie Ross said “Doric Books are fair trickit tae be publishin iss anthology. It's sairly needed fur e secondary skweels. It'll be gran tae hae a hantle o contemporary screivins in e Doric aat'll appeal tae teenagers an aulder fowk as weel.” For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on line catalogue of the National Library of Scotland www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/index/html. All of Blackhall’s poems in Scots & 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 due to Malfranteaux Concept for publishing this volume. Sheena Blackhall copyright March 2023

The Poems: Moon Struck

Acknowledgements Title: Moon Struck (Pamphlet no 185) Front Cover : Free image from Pixabay Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Limited print run of 50 copies.

In February Sheena Blackhall continued to run creative writing workshops for children at Aberdeen Art Centre. This month she also gave a reading in Keith. Kirils Kuzmins, a student at RGU, carrying out an Internship at Doric Books filmed an hour-long session of the poet reading her poems, and those she had translated, to later post weekly on Doric Books social media pages. Also carrying out an internship with Doric Books, Kirstie Clark carried out another hour long interview with the poet at RGU. At Aberdeen University Blackhall delivered a session on storytelling to the students. She was one of the editors of Tales fae the Doric Side promoting the collaboration between the writer Jo Gilbert, The Friends of Elphinstone, the Elphinstone Institute at the University of Aberdeen and Creative Funding, and she read at the launch of this anthology. She also touched base with Aberdeen University’s Laura Grant and Georgios Leontidis on the theme of technology, to discuss writing, ‘what writers draw on, the importance of emotion and empathy – all the good things that machines, even the highly intelligent ones, lack.’ The short story ‘Bobby was Gone’ was written by Kenna Anderson, a new and exciting emerging writer. Thanks are due to Malfranteaux Concept for publishing this volume.Sheena Blackhall copyright February 2023

The Poems: Doppelganger

Title: Doppelganger (Pamphlet no 184)Front Cover: freepik evgeniibashta online Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Retro Overflow Copyright: Sheena Blackhall January 2023 Limited print run of 50 copies Our Sustainable Development Journey was written to perform at the visit by the Camilla, the Queen Consort to Aberdeen University on 19/1/23. The event was held to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen Consort as the University’s Chancellor. The event featured an update on the University's 2040 commitment to sustainability, highlighting current academic, operational and community initiatives. In Memoriam, Andrew Philip Watt was written to read as a tribute at the funeral of Philip Watt, farmer, New Deer, who was not only a kinsman but patriarch of the Philip family. With his wife Vicki he funded several of my poetry pamphlets. Two Doric Limericks were written in response to a request by Dan Ryder, a lyricist and painter who paints his own limericks as murals. His public work often focuses on the local culture and history of places. He intends to approach Nuart to seek a commission to paint one these limericks. Many of these poems were written on a writing retreat at Myres Castle led by Sukhema and Ratnadevi on Mindfulness & Tai Chi. Sheena Blackhall copyright Jan 2023