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.

An Inside Job: The Poems

Title: An Inside Job. Pamphlet no 106 Poems in Scots & English Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen.Cover: MRI scan of the poet’s head Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall October 2014. Some of these poems were written as the result of a week’s research in Lancashire & the Lake District. Thanks must be given to Stefanie C. Biehl of the School of Psychology, William Guild Building, King's College University of Aberdeen for releasing the cover photo of the MRI scan (taken as part of a research programme). Thanks are also due to the ongoing support and encouragement of Les Wheeler, in agreeing to publish this collection. Other poems were written during Poetic Aberdeen: Creative Writing Workshops led by Dr Adam Hanna. The poem Lapidus was written for the group’s online magazine Autumn issue. Lapidus promotes writing and words for wellbeing through its work with other organisations and support of its members who are interested in, or working with others to encourage, the use of writing for health and wellbeing. (www.lapidus.org.uk). Three Doric poems were written specially for the Gallowgate Doric Festival 2014, performed at St Margaret’s Episcopal church. The tale, Fair Game, will appear in the Winter edition of the magazine Lallans.

Sparrows' Footsteps: Poems on a Trip to the Past

Sparrows’ Footsteps Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Paul Nash: The Menin Road(Wikipedia Commons)Cost: £3.00.Copyright: S. Blackhall August 2014. This book is dedicated to the memory of Pte William Middleton, 6th Gordon Highlanders, 266834 killed 9/4/17 on the first day of the battle of Arras. Buried in the Highlander Cemetary Rollincourt, Plot 1 Row A Grave 15, and his brother Pte John Middleton, 7th Gordon Highlanders, 2974, Le Touret Memorial Panel 39-41. After only 47 days on French soil, John was killed in a road by the battlefield. They were my father’s paternal cousins, from Tarland. His mother’s maiden name was also Middleton. Three of his maternal cousins, who were an Aboyne branch of Deeside Middletons, were also killed.(Charles Middleton,Pte 422290, 8th btn Manitoba Regiment, born Birse, died 14/6/1916, buried Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium). His father John ('Alberta, Golf Road, Aboyne) had 7 sons in WW1. 3 were killed. On August 4th 2014, 100 years to the day of the outbreak of ww1, I set foot in Belgium for a trip to the battlefields and cemeteries of the region. The information surrounding the poems is gleaned from the Belgian Battlefield Guide, local guide books, and the web. All of the poems were written during this time. Thanks are due to Les Wheeler for his continued encouragement and support in agreeing to publish this little pamphlet.  

The Stories: Scottish Urban Myths and Ancient Legends (Grace Banks & Sheena Blackhall)

Scottish Urban Myths and Ancient Legends (Urban Legends) Paperback – January 1, 2015 by Sheena Blackhall (Author), Grace Banks (Author); Pub. The History Press.Monsters, lunatics, vampires, werewolves, evil dolls, and suicide dogs, stones entombing bodies, faces appearing in walls, curses, and meetings with the devil—all this and more are contained within this book of Scottish urban legends. Now, for the first time, folklorists and storytellers Grace Banks and Sheena Blackhall explore these intriguing tales. Folklore embeds itself into a local community, often to the extent that some people believe all manner of mysteries and take them as fact. Whether they’re stories passed around the school playground, through the internet, or 'round a flickering campfire, urban legends are everywhere. Scottish Urban Legends is a quirky and downright spooky ride into the heart of Celtic folklore.

The Poems: The Gargoyle Man

The Gargoyle Man. Poems in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall.Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: The Green Man from Le Mans Cathedral in France, c. 1240 Cost: £3.00. Copyright: S. Blackhall July 2014. For more information on other 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 and English, are now uploaded on www.poemhunter.com. Many of these poems were written on retreat during a creative writing week run by Ratnadevi, Linda France and Larry Butler at Dhanakosa, Balquidder. Others were the result of a week’s research in the Cotswolds, visiting Stratford on Avon, Bath, and surrounding areas.

The Poems: The Housewife's Dream

Title: The Housewife’s Dream. Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire. Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: I and the Village, Marc Chagall, painted in 1911 Cost: £3.00.Copyright: S. Blackhall 2014 Two of these poems were inspired by a writing session led by Dr Adam Hanna in Aberdeen City Council’s Townhouse. Others were written in response to paintings in the 80th Aberdeen Artists' Exhibition. In May 2014 Blackhall became Patron of Reading at Kaimhill Primary School in Aberdeen.The children’s tales at the end of the book were written as challenges set by the pupils providing 4 words, to be incorporated eg Hungary, tiger, cold, girl, with the exception of one tale written by her son, Ross Blackhall.Thanks are due to Les Wheeler for his continued encouragement and support in agreeing to publish this little pamphlet (the 103rd poetry volume). For more information on other 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 and English, are now uploaded on www.poemhunter.com.  

The Poems: The Space Between: New and Selected Poems

The Space Between: New and Selected Poems, by Sheena Blackhall, 2014 ISBN 978-1-85752-005-7 www.abdn.ac.uk/riiss/publications/authored-publications-110.php (The website of the Research Institute of Irish and Scottish Studies, University of Aberdeen.) Published by Aberdeen University Press, Cover Image, Emily Carr (1871-1945) ‘Shoreline’1936, oil on canvas, c McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Dedicated to Sir C.Duncan Rice for his support and encouragement of poetry in the North East. This book was launched at Aberdeen University’s May Festival. It was edited and selected by Alan Spence, Professor in Creative Writing, University of Aberdeen, with the assistance of Professor Cairns Craig, Dr Helen Lynch, and Dr Adam Hanna. Detailed Description Blackhall, Sheena (2014) The Space Between: New and Selected Poems, Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, pp.153 + xiv. ISBN: 978-1-85752-005-7 ‘Sheena Blackhall is probably the most prolific poet in Scotland, and one of the most rarely talented. She is the true voice of the North East, a sophisticated, engaged, technically gifted writer who moves with ease through different modes and registers. She’s at home with traditional ballad forms and Buddhist meditations, with collage and cut-up and the found poem – lyrical and bawdy and profoundly funny.’ – Alan Spence ‘Sheena Blackhall has the lyric voice of the early MacDiarmid and prime of William Soutar, and knows unerringly how to send that couthy, earthy tongue to the furthest of stars. She combines tradition and modern wit, ancient knowledge with feminine intuition, personal defiance and spirit, a grasp of language topped up with thorough scholarship.’ – Joy Hendry

The Poems: Biting Dust

Biting Dust: Poems & Tales in Scots & English by Sheena Blackhall. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire.Printed by Thistle Reprographics, 55 Holburn Street Aberdeen. Cover: Image from The Droll Dreams of Pantagruel by François Desprez - (1565)Cost: £3.00.Copyright: S. Blackhall 2014. Thanks are due to Les Wheeler for his continued encouragement and support in agreeing to publish this little pamphlet. For more information on other 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 and English, are now uploaded on www.poemhunter.com. Summer of Love is due to be published in the following: Forward Poetry anthology, Essence of Love, July 2014. May 2014 (Pamphlet no 101)

The Bairn Books

Jessie the Jumbo is available now online, free to download on Smashwords.Jessie the Jumbo is a selection of tales written originally in English for the hugely popular ‘Nickety Nackety’ children’s programme which was broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland and produced by Frieda Morrison. It drew fan mail letters from children all over the UK, and quite a few adults too, lorry drivers and tractor men amongst them. The format was trialled in Edinburgh nursery settings by Frieda Morrison to assess the reaction from the intended audience. A cast of the finest actors and actresses in Scotland dramatized the stories and brought the scripts to life. The selection of tales in Jessie the Jumbo, drawn from the Nickety Nackety Collection are those written by Sheena Blackhall, and here reset in Scots. The book will be featured on www.ScotsLanguageRadio.com. Frieda Morrison was the first mentor of this much loved North East children’s writer, and commissioned her earliest children’s tales