The Poems: Green Man Rising

Title: Green Man Rising: Pamphlet no 142, Poems in Scots & English, Published by Malfranteaux Concepts, Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street, Aberdeen. The Cover Image ‘Green Man’ is by the artist Rosy Long, c. Sheena Blackhall July 2019 Price £5.00 Many of these poems were written in response to ‘The Lost Words’, by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris.Thanks are also due to Malfranteux Concepts for agreeing to publish this collection, and also to the artist Rosy Long for allowing the use of her work to provide the cover image.

From Gweedore to Skibbereen: Irish poems, ballads and pieces by Sheena Blackhall and Tom Hubbard, with Scots translations of poems by Theo Dorgan, Paula Meehan, Gillian Clarke and Gabriel Fitzmaurice: Published by Malfranteaux Concepts, Aberdeen: Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street, Aberdeen: Cover image by Sine NicThearlaich Cost: £6.00 © Sheena Blackhall and Tom Hubbard May 2019. In 1960, when I was 13, my father booked us by car ferry to Ireland. He had a carefully planned itinerary in mind, one that took in his favourite songs ( He was a gifted tenor). And so we saw the sun go down on Galway Bay, the mountains of Mourne, the Roses of Tralee, Dublin’s fair city. I kissed the Blarney Stone with some difficulty. Danny Boy would have been impressed. On another occasion I was invited with others to a dinner hosted by Sir Duncan Rice to honour Seamus Heaney, one of my favourite poets. After, I sent him a short poem describing him as a ‘Lead Wolf’ in the poetry pack. His reply was typical of his Irish humour: it arrived on a postcard: ‘What can a lead wolf say but woof woof!’ In 2003 I was to perform at the Burns International Conference at Magee Campus, University of Ulster in Londonderry. I came down with flu once there and spent all weekend in bed, having ruined the speaker’s paper which I was due to illustrate through song. In 2015 I treated myself to a weekend in Dublin, immersing myself in the rich culture of the city. This was a much more fruitful visit. Paula Meehan was my tutor at an Arvon Creative Writing week which I attended, and I greatly enjoyed her work and that of her husband Theo Dorgan . The Welsh poet Gillian Clarke’s poem ‘Overheard in County Sligo’ is another of my cherished poems: my thanks go to those three poets for graciously allowing me to owersett their work into Scots: I’ve included Irish songs taught to me by the North East traveller John Watt Stewart. Like my father, I delight to sing them. Finally, on a whim, I sent my DNA off to Cambridge for testing. On my mother’s side I am Ashkenazi Jew. I persuaded my father’s grandson in Canada to have his DNA tested. The result of my paternal DNA? 100% the same as the indigenous Irish population!

The Poems: Neeps an Sheeps (pamphlet 140)

Title: Neeps an Sheeps Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is by Rosy Long, entitled ‘Neeps an Sheeps : Blackhall May 2019. Price: £5 Ghaists o Schoolhill was written in response to a suggestion given by Alfie McGuinness, Director and Head of Construction & Design at Dandara Ltd. (Currently working on the Triple Kirks project). Neeps an Sheeps was inspired by Rosy Long’s delightful picture and title. Thanks are also due to Malfranteux Concepts for agreeing to publish this collection, and to Rosy Long for agreeing to the use of her work as the cover. Neeps an Sheeps Inspired by Rosy Long’s title of her work Spring rain dreeps On neeps an sheeps In cauldrife Buchan parks Bit sheeps wi neeps Can thole the dreeps They’re weirin wooly sarks!

The Poems: The Black Sky Blowing

Title: The Black Sky Blowing. Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is by Rosy Long, entitled ‘The Wind blew the Black Sky inside out’c. Blackhall 2019. Most of these poems were written in an exploratory trip to the Pennines in April, 2019. The Lion Rampant is included in the anthology ‘Scotia Extremis’ edited by Brain Johnstone & Andy Jackson, published by Luath Press ISBN 9781912147564, 2019. Còmhradh an Alltain is to be published in the May edition of the magazine of Irish & Scottish writing, Causeway/Cabhsair, pub AUP 2019. Nummers has been selected for future publication. Kinker was written after a day’s teaching Scots in the village school of Kincardine O'Neil. The Black Sky Blowing was inspired by the work of the artist Rosy Long, entitled ‘The Wind blew the Black Sky inside out’. ‘Sin I Cam By Johnshaven', was a project gathering and investigating the rhymes old and new of a coastal village and its hinterland, with an emphasis on the Doric, a three month project (January-March 2019) jointly worked on with Ewan McVicar, Sheena Blackhall, Christine Kydd and Andy Shanks, hosted by Johnshaven Museum's club for people with dementia; The Johnner Celebration song was written as a celebration of this.Thanks are also due to Malfranteux Concepts for agreeing to publish this collection.Sheena Blackhall April 2019

The Gods of Grayfriar's Lane: The e-books

THE GODS OF GRAYFRIAR'S LANE :SB SHEENA BLACKHALL Publishing, Aberdeen. A Novella by SHEENA BLACKHALL BSc (Hons, Psych), Dip.Ed, M.Litt (Distinction), MUniv (Abdn) Edited for E-Book by PAUL J. DONALD BMus (Hons), DLITE PGDE (Primary) E-Book (Second) Edition: © 2019 Sheena Blackhall. Edited for E-Book by Paul J. Donald. Published by Sheena Blackhall Publishing, Aberdeen. Distributed via Smashwords (www.smashwords.com). THE PUBLISHERS AND AUTHOR HAVE DONE THEIR BEST TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY AND CURRENCY OF ALL INFORMATION IN ‘THE GODS OF GRAYFRIAR’S LANE – A NOVELLA BY SHEENA BLACKHALL’; HOWEVER, THEY CAN ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY LOSS OR INCONVENIENCE SUSTAINED BY ANY READER AS A RESULT OF ITS INFORMATION OR ADVICE. NO PART OF THIS E-BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER EXCEPT FOR THE QUOTATION OF BRIEF PASSAGES IN REVIEWS OR EDUCATIONAL ASSIGNMNETS OR THESIS.

Ten Ballads: The Songs

This book has been produced with the assistance of the Elphinstone Institute at the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire Council through a Capacity Grant and The Barn in Banchory. The ballads in this buikie were scrievit bi Sheena Blackhall as pairt o the Elphinstone Institute's project Celebratin Sheena. Sheena is the vyce o North-East Scotland. Een o Scotland's maist rare an - ingyne scriever, she is a makar fa wyves intriguin tales, poems, an sangs aboot the deepest walls of oor experience. Born in 1947, bit, as she says hersel, brocht up in the nineteenth century, Sheena wis immersed in the expressive Doric tongue an culture o her faimily's native Deeside, wi a wee puckle Latin lernt fae her granmither, Amo amas I luved a lass an she wis tall an slender Amas amat she caad me flat an dang me ower the fender Sheena's tireless insicht, swak wi linguistic ken, and depth, his vrocht-forrit mair nor 100 poetry chapbuiks, 5 novels, mony short story collections, twa televised plays, in Doric alang wi a pucklie in English tee, an winnerfu excursions intae ither cultures throw her owresettins o warld poetry intae the Doric. The day, Sheena hauds an honours degree in Psychology, an a Maister's in the Socio-linguistics o Deeside Doric. We wis fair trickit tae hae Sheena wirkin wi us at the Elphinstone Institute for five year, side bi side wi the late Stanley Robertson. Weel, we aught tae hae hid the room buggit bi MI5 for there wis aa or North-East culture - the tongue, sang, story, an music - in ae office. The air wis fu wi anecdote, folktale, aul an new tradeetions, siccan a proof o the warth an relevance o deep tradition an present- day creativity tae this nation. Inspired bi a lang-term relationship with Buddhist teachins, Sheena's wark is deeply human an represents a by-ordinar range o achievement. She can scrieve a bonnie love poem, spik o the heartache o parentin, sing a centuries-aul ballat, or or mak an inspirin sang for bairns aboot the technical side o Doric in saiven wee verses. Sheena can reach onyb'dy, wi a pitch-pairfect sense o fit wey tae mak sense tae sma bairnies or tae aul fowk, incomer or local, aa wi muckle ease. North-East an Scots-tongue writers are aye pigeonholed, bit Sheena, as makar Joy Hendry scrievit, "knows unerringly how to send that couthy, earthy tongue to the furthest of stars." Fyles influenced bi great figures the like o Dickens an Saki, Calvino, Hughes an Heaney, Sheena his vrocht her ain vyce, mixin classic influences wi Scots balladry an a tradition that she cries "that fey an ither-worldly zone o the weird an the supernaitural". Sheena has raxxed the boundaries o Doric, expandin its literary range fae poetry an sang intae novels an short stories, an brocht it, alangside Les Wheeler, intae the digital age wi the Elphinstone Kist, a wab-based resource for dominies an pupils. For mony, Doric is a tongue o hame an hearth, or o humour, an it's affa gweed at that, bit Sheena shows us that it can dae onything, an she's taen it tae skweels, varsities, theatres, television studios, an even untae the hert o Washinton, D.C. wi clean and thrawn assurance. Sheena his a cultural confidence an self-esteem that gies vyce tae thoosans o North-East fowk fa lang tae hear their ain vyces refleckit back in aa wakks o life. Fit Sheena dis, fyles it's gey important tae literature, are thus o far wider significance nor at. She represents the best o North- East identity an dis it wi style, confidence, perception, an grace. Dr Thomas A. McKean,Director o the Elphinstone Institute, Varsity o Aiberdeen, March 2019 ,

The Poems: Forehooied

Title: Forehooied. Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Aberdeen. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is ‘Guided, Guarded by the spirits of Dead Suns’ by William T. Horton (1864-1919)Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall March 2019 Horton’s illustration appeared in H. Rider Haggard’s book ‘The Mahatma & the Hare, a Dream Story (1911). ‘The Puggie’s Hairt’ was published online , at Eiks an Eyns.Thanks are due to the encouragement of Malfranteaux Concepts, in agreeing to publish this collection. Copyright Sheena Blackhall March 2019

The Poems: Death Matters

Title: Death Matters.Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Malfranteaux Concepts Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is Nevermore, by Rosy Long. 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. Interviews with the poet appear on: http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/connect/podcast/sheena-blackhall and on Scots Radio: https// www.scotsradio.com/sheena-blackhall/ https://soundcloud.com/scotsradio/sheena-blackhall Thanks are also due to Malfranteux Cconcepts for agreeing to publish this collection, and to the artist Rosy Long for agreeing to the use of her work as cover. The historical poems arose from research I was conducting for Hazlehead Primary School for workshopping in classes there, and for a project centred in Johnshaven, along with Ewan McVicar and Christine Kydd, where I also undertook research. Sheena Blackhall January 2019

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.

The Poems: The Gype

Title: The Gype.Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen.The cover image is that of Le Mat: The Fool. Woodcut, French, Marseille, 16th century Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall October 17 Acknowledgements:Many of these poems were written while recuperating after surgery at Fadlydyke Farm with Philip and Vicki Watt, New Deer. Le Mat: The Fool or The Jester is one of the 78 cards in a Tarot deck. The Fool is titled Le Mat in the Tarot of Marseilles, and Il Matto in most Italian language tarot decks. These archaic words mean "the madman" or "the beggar.” Jamie Fleeman. Jamie Fleeman was employed as a fool – a clown – by the Laird o’ Udny at Knockhall Castle near Newburgh, along the coast from Aberdeen. Born in 1713 at a croft at Longside near Peterhead Jamie died nearby at Kinmundy, in 1778. He was listed as a pauper in the Statistical Account for Longside.One of the poems was commissioned by John Cairns, Artistic Director of Haddo Arts Festival, after a cultural conversation, others reflected a visit to Peterhead Prison.Time Warp: 1897-2017 was written after a visit to the café on the corner of Whitehall Road and Desswood Place, formerly the hub of my great grandfather Matthew Booth’ s dairy empire in the city of Aberdeen.Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection.The Life and Death of Jamie Fleeming: the Laird of Udny’s fool. by John Burnett Pratt was published by Lewis and James Smith in Aberdeen in 1859

The Poems: Win-Blawn

The Poems: Wind-Blawn Published by malfranteaux concepts. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is from a surrealist Foocame Art Silk Poster, JapanCost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall August 2017. Many of these poems were written on a research trip to Edinburgh in July. 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 support and encouragement of Keith Murray, in agreeing to publish this collection.Dedicated to Philip & Vicki Watt, Fadlydyke Farm, New Deer

The Poems: The Sanctuary Knocker

Title: The Sanctuary Knocker. Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image is that of the great Sanctuary Knocker on the door of Durham Cathedral.Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall May2017. Many of these poems were written on a research trip to County Durham in April, and after a visit to the Beamish Museum , in 2017. Idioticals was published in Lallans Magazine. Military poems were inspired by a day spent at the Gordon Highlanders’ Museum (Blackhall’s son, half brother and cousins served with the regiment). Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection.

The Poems: Comings & Goings

Title: Comings & Goings.Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cost: £3.00.Copyright: S.Blackhall March 2017. Dedicated to Skye-Marie Anderson, born on St Patrick’s Day,March 17th 2017. The cover is a Japanese woodblock print by Harumura Tadao, entitled Weak Twilight, 1924. The story ‘Buonamico Buffalmacco: Peinter o Florence’ by Blackhall is due to be published in Lallans. The poem‘The Alternative Tourist Tour of Properties Owned by Nyaffs’ will feature in Pushing Out the Boat magazine, Issue 14. The poems inspired by artefacts from Aberdeen City archive materials, were written by Blackhall as part of a project involving the Mile Long Club at Aberdeen’s Art Centre venue. The Scots Owesett, ‘The Cat Oot o the Pyoke is drawn from 'Wee Windaes' a website on the National Library of Scotland, which showcases examples of Scots language from the 15th century to the present day.Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection.

The Poems: Thursdays

Title: Thursdays.Poems & Playlet in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Morven Coutts Blackhall 11/10/1975- 4/7/2016 Cost: £3.00.Copyright: S. Blackhall February 2017 Dedication. This book is dedicated to the memory of the poet's son, Morven Coutts Blackhall. The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living: Marcus Tullius Cicero. Several of these poems were written in February at a Lapidus day-long event. (‘Finding your Place in the Family of Things’, a training day on Therapeutic Writing, which was co-facilitated by Sheena Blackhall & Elaine Reid at the Maggie Centre, in the grounds on Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.Some Scots owersetts of Poems by Jewish Writers are due to appear in Southlight 21. The playlet ‘The Merket Cross’ was written in response to writing workshops at Aberdeen Arts Centre run by the international playwright Peter Arnott. Siskin was inspired by the exquisite photographs by Catriona Low Of Severin Publishing of her resident garden family of the species. Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection.Copyright S. Blackhall

The CDs: Oot o the Kist

Oot o the Kist is a double cd launched by Scotsoun in the Spring of 2017 SSCD 805 (1 & 2). It is a mixture of song and poetry, all performed by the poet using different instruments. (www.lallans.co.uk). There are 46 entries on the first cd and 42 on the second. Thanks are due to George T. Watt and the Comatee o the Scots Language Society for producing this CD

The Poem: Dimitri Keaw

Title: Dimitri Keaw (Pamphlet 122).Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen.Cover: Dimitri, photograph by Catriona Low. Cost: £3.00.Copyright: S. Blackhall Jan 2017 Dedication:This book is dedicated to Philip and Vicki Watt, Fadlydyke Farm New Deer,& Catriona Low, Lower Boghead, Kintore.The cover photograph by Catriona Low, is of her tenant jackdaw Dimitri who lives with his family on her property.Some of these poems were written in response to artefacts in the Hunterian Gallery at Glasgow University. Awfu Weather was prompted by the cartoon “Awfu Weather” From The Northern Looking Glass. The Short Story, Secrets, was specifically written to perform at the Winter Solstice Poetry Event, run by Aberdeen Inspired for in the city’s Christmas Village in December 2016.

Title: Cleikum. Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen.Cost: £3.00.Copyright: S. Blackhall November 2016.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 Scottish Border poems were written on a five day visit to the region in October 2016. Other poems were written to perform at an event organised by Scottish Pen on the Day of the Imprisoned Writer to support Writers and Publishers imprisoned in Turkey,in the Gallowgate, Aberdeen. ‘Facing the World’ tanka poems were inspired by a visit to an exhibition in Edinburgh’s Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

The Doric Gruffalo's Bairn

The Doric Gruffalo's Bairn: The Gruffalo's Child In Doric Scots from the book by Julia Donaldson, translated by Sheena Blackhall. Illustrated by Axel Scheffler £6.99. Published by Itchy Coo : 11th October 2016 ISBN: 9781785300691 Sheena Blackhall’s Doric version of The Gruffalo is now followed by The Doric Gruffalo’s Bairn. A cautionary tale about what happens when a small Gruffalo leaves the comfort of its cave and sets off into the dark wood on a wintry night, this is sure to be another big hit in the North-East and with Doric speakers wherever they bide.

The Poems : The Seely Howe

Title: The Seely Howe.Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Tomnaverie, taken from Tarland- a great place to walk. Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall October 2016: Acknowledgements: Tomnaverie stone circle dates from around 2000 BC. During the writing of this pamphlet, my son Morven’s ashes were buried in the family lair at Coull, in the Howe of Cromar, overlooked by Lochnagar and the Druid circle of Tomnaverie. To hear my poem of that name, and view the area, click on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT3sBynUyBw. The Middleton family have been buried at Coull since 1622. Coull Castle lies one field away from the graveyard. The title of this pamphlet ‘The Seely Howe’ is taken from an ancient North East rhyme: Dool, Dool tae Blelack, An Dool tae Blelack’s Heir, For sendin us fae the Seely Howe, Tae the Cauld Hill o Fare. (When the last Gordon laird of Blelack near Tarland employed a local wizard to expel the fairy folk from a sheltered glen on his estate to the Hill o Fare by Echt, they cursed him in revenge. The word seely means happy/blessed).Some of these poems and the playlet were written for a writing project entitled ‘Granite’. Other poems are to be published by Forward Poetry in three anthologies, entitled ‘Inspirational Idols’, ‘Limerick Legends’, and ‘Perfect Pets’. Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection.

The Poems: Crossing the Bridge

Title: Crossing the Bridge.Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Detail from the sculpture Along the River During the Qingming Festival, by Zheng Chunhui.Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall August 2016.Chinese artist Zheng Chunhui recently unveiled a large wooden sculpture that measures 40 feet (12.286) meters long. Four years in the making, the tree carving is based on a famous painting called “Along the River During the Qingming Festival,” a historical holiday reserved to celebrate past ancestors that falls on the 104th day after the winter solstice. The piece is displayed in Fujon Province. Walking the Mat and The Merket Cross were written in a follow-up writing project to the recent city production, Granite. The pamphlet also contains details from The Triumph of Death by Pieter Brueghel the Elder.Most of these poems were written in the Summer of 2016, others were written under commission by the Forestry Commission of Scotland, for a project on Bennachie. Some tales have been accepted for publication by Lallans. The Scots Owersett of 'Drakestail,' a classic French faily tale published by Charles Marelle in 1888 under the title 'Bout-d'-Canard" in Affenschwanz et Cetera was published in New Writing Scotland 34, entitled Talking about Lobsters.

The Poems: Death of a Tadpole

Title: Death of a Tadpole. Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. The cover image comes from an animation called 小蝌蚪找 , "Little Tadpole Looking for Mom". It is a Chinese animation for children created from Chinese paintings. The inspiration came from the work of the artist Qi Baishi.Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall July 2016.Dedication: This book is dedicated to Jessica & Winnie Le Blackhall Acknowledgements: The Dhanakosa Sequence of poems was written on a Buddhist Creative Writing Retreat at Balquhidder, 4th June- 10th June 2016. The Casterton Sequence was written at a residential writing weekend at Casterton, Kirkby Lonsdale, organised by the poet in residence, Sally Evans, held over Beltane, the time of the ancient Celtic festival. Jane Eyre & Mr Rochester is to be published in ‘Love is in the Air’, Where were you when Kennedy died? has been accepted for publication in ‘The Life and Times’, and There was a Young Lady from Troon will appear in ‘Poetic Forms, all anthologies of Forward Poetry due out in the summer of 2016 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.

The Poems: Around the World in Terza Rima

Acknowledgements Title: Around the World in Terza Rima Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: A copy of the hand coloured etching of Edmund Kean (1787-1833) as The Theatrical Atlas, by George CruikshankCost: £3.00 Copyright S. Blackhall, 2016 Most of this poetry pamphlet was written during a research trip to County Mayo in Ireland. Some of these poems have been published in the following magazines/ online sites: Best Scottish Poems online 2015 Poem of the moment on SPL homepage, 15-4-16 , and in Lallans. ‘Granite’ was one of four of Blackhall’s poems performed in the spectacular Granite, a sweeping, epic outdoor theatrical event, telling the story of Aberdeen, from 1863 to 2016. The production took place in the quadrangle of Marischal College, Aberdeen. 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.

The Poems: The Witnessing Pamphlet 116

Title: The Witnessing Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Odilon Redon’s lithograph loosely based on the life of St Anthony of Antioch.Cost: £3.00 Copyright S. Blackhall March 2016. Some of these poems have been published in the following magazines/ online sites: Owersetts of Vietnamese Poems- Southlight 19, April 2016. The article The Gorgonzola Cheese/ The Caledonian Antisyzygy, and the poem Bella Caledonia, 50 miles up were published online in http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/ The Lion Rampant was published online by www.scotiaextremis.wordpress.com/2016/03/14/week-eight/ Diving for Poems,Dhanakosa, Balquihidder was published online at http://keeppoemsalive.com/2016/03/10/keep-poems-alive-international-21/ 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

The Poems: Pamphlet no 115

Title: Flat Out poems, tales and Owersetts in Scots & English Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: The Flammarion engraving This is a wood engraving by an unknown artist, so named because its first documented appearance is in Camille Flammarion's 1888 book L'atmosphère: météorologie populaire ("The Atmosphere: Popular Meteorology"). The engraving has often, but erroneously, been referred to as a woodcut. It has been used to represent a supposedly medieval cosmology, including a flat earth bounded by a solid and opaque sky, or firmament, and also as a metaphor (from Wikipedia) Cost: £3.00 Copyright S. Blackhall January 2016. Some of these poems have been published on Causeway / Cabhsair: A Magazine of Irish and Scottish Writing. For more information on publications by Sheena Blackhall, visit http://sheenablackhall.blogspot.com or the on-line catalogue of the Nat. Library of Scotland w.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. Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection. Dedicated to Philip and Vicki Watt, Fadlydyke Farm New Deer

The Stories: (15th Collection) Cheerybye Eden

Title: Cheerybye Eden. Tales an Owersetts in Scots & English. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: The Dance of Death, by Hans Holbein. Adam & Eve, preceded by Death, playing on a beggar’s lyre or hurdy-gurdy, are driven by the angel from Eden cost:£3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall January 2016

The Poems: The Spirit Hoose

Title: The Spirit Hoose.Poems & plays in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen.Cover: A Bangkok Spirit House Cost: £3.00 Copyright:S.Blackhall November 2015.Concerning the cover: http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/spirit_house.html ‘Spirit Worship is as old as mankind itself. In Thailand the phenomenon goes back to the ancient days when the Thais were beginning their slow migration from the Red River Delta in northern Vietnam to all parts of the Southeast Asian region. Spirit Worship, or Animism, was a religion by which the entire world lived at one time, and when Buddhism came to Southeast Asia, it developed side by side with the ancient spirit religion. Today, many of the old animistic beliefs are intertwined with Buddhism and some animistic practices still exist in Thailand. One of these which is practiced by every Thai is the Spirit House. The Spirit House can be seen at a prominent spot outside every business establishment in the country. It can be seen on a pedestal in front of every hotel. It dresses the corner garden area of a restaurant, the front of a bar, disco or put Spirit houses are even seen at outdoor food markets. They are built on the grounds of Buddhist temples, outside caves in the mountains, near fishing ponds in the valleys, everywhere.’ The poem ‘The Ordination of Trees’ was inspired by the BBC news item: ‘A Buddhist monk from north-east Thailand is so worried about the environment that he has been ordaining trees for 25 years. Since 1990 Phrakru Pitak Nanthakthun has been leading ceremonies to dress trees in orange robes as a way of convincing people that they should be viewed as sacred.He believes the symbolic act can help prevent the logging and deforestation that plague his home province of Nan.And people are taking notice, as Phrakru Pitak Nanthakthun has started a movement that is spreading across south-east Asia.’All of Blackhall’s poems in Scots and English, are now uploaded on www.poemhunter.com. Many of these poems were written at Brantwood Lodge, Ruskin’s House in the Lake District, on a residential writing workshop led by Dr Geraldine Green & Pippa Little.

The Poems: The Doric Gruffalo

Now Available in Doric Scots. Everybody loves The Gruffalo and now you can enjoy this children's classic for the very first time in Doric Scots Translated by Sheena Blackhall and published by Itchy Coo, this new edition of The Gruffalo will delight both children and adults alike. "A moose tuik a dander ben the wid. A tod saw the moose, and the moose luiked guid." Come a wee bit farrer intae thon deep mirk wid, an fin oot fit happens fin the sleekit moose faas in wi a hoolet, a snake an a hungry gruffalo ...Publisher: Black and White Publishing ISBN: 9781785300042

The Poems & Tales: The Evil that Men do

Title: The Evil that Men Do: Limited Edition of 80 Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Children in the Snow by Hiroshi Hamaya (free photos on Wikimedia Commons)Cost: £3.00.Copyright: S. Blackhall August 2015. The cover photograph is a striking image of Japanese children: ‘Born and raised in Tokyo, Hiroshi Hamaya (Japanese, 1915—1999) began his career documenting that city from the air and the street, working as both an aeronautical photographer and a freelance contributor to magazines. An assignment in 1939 took him to the rural coast of the Sea of Japan, where he became interested in documenting the traditional customs of its people and the austere environment of the region…In the early 1950s he settled in the seaside town of Ōiso, where he produced books based on earlier projects. Later in his career…he made studies of landscapes found in Japan and abroad.’ The Paul Getty Museum 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. Many of these poems were written during a trip to Liverpool & Chester. Two pieces are Scots owersetts from ‘The Pillow Book’ of Sei Shōnagon (清少納言?, lesser councilor of state Sei), (c. 966–1017/1025)who was a Japanese author and a court lady who served the Empress Teishi (Sadako) around the year 1000 during the middle Heian period.There is also a Scots owersett of a victim’s account of the bombing of Hiroshima from Children of the Ashes: The People of Hiroshima after the bomb by Robert Jungk, pub by Paladin Books 1985. Thanks are due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection.

The Poems: Flashback

Title: Flashback: Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Barn Door, Fadlydyke Farm, July 2015. Photo by Will House (BA Columbia College, Chicago, Film & Video, 2005) (flickr.com/photos/karloff)Cost: £3.00.Copyright: S. Blackhall July 2015. In April 1906, her grandmother’s sister, Patricia Philip, and her new husband Arthur Simpson (New Deer), passed Ellis Island in Upper New York Bay in the Port of New York and New Jersey, United States. This was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States as the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. Patricia’s great grandson Will House took a photo of the barn door at Fadlydyke Farm in July 2015 during a family reunion at New Deer, hosted by Patricia’s nephew, Philip Watt, and his wife Vicki.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 Many of these poems were written during a trip to Dublin. The poem Flashback was written during a stay at Fadlydyke Farm, New Deer. Two poems appear in the anthology White Wings of Delight, Malfranteaux Concepts 2015

The Poems: The Cloud Collector

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.

The Poems: The Wound Man

Title: The Wound Man (Pamphlet 110):Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: The Wound Man: a mediaeval medical illustration.(The Wellcome Library online, an example from MS.29 ) Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall May 2015. Dedication:This book is dedicated to Philip and Vicki Watt, Fadlydyke Farm New Deer. Concerning the cover: Mediaeval anatomy works often contained illustrations. The Wound Man shows all the injuries that a body might sustain. Captions describe the types of injuries, such as whether an arrow has embedded itself in a muscle or shot right through. 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 Breakfast was shortlisted in the Irish Ó Bhéal’s 2nd annual competition and appears in Five Words Vol VIII. Many of these poems were written during a week in Wales, others were written over a residential drama workshop weekend run by WYTAS Interchange, Livingston. Others have been published in Lallans 86 and Pushing out the boat; Issue 13. Butterfly was inspired by the paper sculpture ‘Free to Fly’ and the May Festival song was written to celebrate the many events in Aberdeen University’s May programme. Journey to the Interior appears on Book Trust Scotland’s website ‘Journeys’.

The Translations: Scottish Spleen

Title: Scottish Spleen.Baudelaire in Scots(Anthology) published by Tapsalteerie, Bognamoon, Craigievar, Alford, Aberdeenshire AB33 8LX www.tapsalteerie.co.uk ISBN:9780-9926631-3-1. Blackhall usually includes Scots 'owersetts'(translations) in her poetry collections.This anthology was produced with the assistance of the Andrew Tannahill Fund for the Furtherance of Scottish Literature.Edited by James W Underhill, Tom Hubbard & Stewart Sanderson.Featuring translations by Sheena Blackhall, Robert R Calder, Tom Hubbard, J Derrick McClure, Walter Perrie, James Robertson, James W Underhill, Christie Williamson, Rab Wilson

The Plays

‘Deein Fine’ was acted by Fleeman Productions in January 2013. The play is set in St Nicholas Kirkyard and an unnamed Aberdeen Hospice. The one act play “Nicht Shades” (a runner-up in the Barron Prize for Doric Drama) was adapted from the pageant, written by Sheena Blackhall and Les Wheeler. Sheena Blackhall’s solo plays include two commissioned by Gordon Menzies Productions for BBC Education’s ‘Around Scotland’, ‘A Tongue in yer Heid’, televised in Jan/Feb 1995. The plays were ‘The Broken Hairt’ and ‘The Nicht Bus.’ She has also written several monologues: ‘Simmer Interlude’ (Wittgenstein’s Web, GKB Enterprises, 1996), The Twilight Zone (Reets, Keith Murray Publications 1991) and ‘Swimming in the Dark’ (The Bonsai Grower GKB Enterprises 1998)

The Poems: Piano Lesson

Title: Piano Lesson.Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: The frontispiece of Andrea Antico’s Frottole intabulate da sonare organi libro primo (1517) features a woodcut of a player at a harpsichord, a singer holding a score, and a monkey holding a lute Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall February 2015. Acknowledgements; Meditation on a Year Gone by will appear in the Anthology ‘A Year Gone by’ pub Forward Poetry April 2015 . The Scots owersetts of Korean poems will appear in the magazine Southlight . Some of the owersetts in Scots of pieces by Baudelaire will be published in Scottish Spleen. Other poems are online at Eiks an Eyns: the Lallans website. The poem Flodden has been accepted for a forthcoming Lallans issue. The Page was written for an upcoming Aberdeen City Anthology, inspired by the #Write City project. Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection. My late brother, Ian Middleton, was an accomplished church organist and clavichord player, and frequently gave recitals in São Paulo, Brazil, where he settled and died. He enjoyed his piano lessons rather more than I did. He suffered from Perthes Hip joint disease as a child and spent a year strapped to his bed to stretch the affected limb. Doctors at that time advised against strong physical activities for sufferers. He bought and exported a clavichord to Brazil, where he performed mainly Baroque and Classical music.

Poems and Tales

Title: The Poetry Hat Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Photo of Jessica Le Blackhall in a Vietnamese Poetry Hat by Nga Le BlackhallCost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall January 2015. Thanks are extended to Nga Le Blackhall for permission to use her photograph of a Vietnamese poetry hat, as the cover for this pamphlet. The Poem Hats of Hue inspired the title of this collection. Conical hats are one of the most common symbols of Vietnam recognized everywhere. But Hue hats are exceptional. Often called 'poem hats', they reflect the artistic nature of its people. Some of the poems were inspired by the Aberdeen Artists Christmas Exhibition at the Aberdeen Art Centre. Some of the tales were commissioned by Barry Donaldson of the Aberdeen Reading Bus for a Storytelling Project. The Doric version of the Gruffalo was commissioned by Bruce Eunson Scots Language Co-ordinator Education Scotland/Foghlam Alba for a Gruffalo event in the Spring of 2015. Northwords Now Issue 28 Autumn 2014 published the poem Referendum: Eurydice Tint. A Buddhist Valentine will appear in an American Anthology celebrating The International Day of Happiness, 2015. Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection.

The Poems: Mr Charon's Ferry

Title: Mr Charon’s Ferry:Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Loch Voil: Photo by Amoghavira Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall November 2014. 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. Thanks are extended to Amoghavira for permission to use his photograph of Loch Voil, Balquidder, as the cover for this pamphlet. A Buddhist order member, he now lives in the village of Callander, about 15 miles from Dhanakosa.. Some of the Gaelic poems in this collection will feature in the Winter edition of Causeway / Cabhsair: A Magazine of Irish and Scottish Writing.