Bride’s Chickens
Harbingers of spring,
the sound of oystercatchers
whistling in the dark.

I’ve just been out for a walk. It’s cold, with frost lingering in the shade, but for the first time in weeks there is sunshine. The days are longer, and on Monday I was woken by birds in the garden. And today I heard the first oystercatchers. So spring is definitely on its way.
This post is just a few reminders of some recent and upcoming events. First is the appearance of my poem You Play the Melody, on the Scotia Extremis blog. It’s only in its third week, but this project curated by Andy Jackson and Brian Johnstone has attracted a lot of attention. It explores the extremes of Scottish culture in a series of paired poems – Burns night vs Up Helly-Aa, Black Bun vs Black Bob, and this week, Celtic Connections vs The White Heather Club. My ‘twin’ is Christine de Luca, with a lovely nostalgic – but not sentimental poem about watching The White Heather Club in her youth. Can’t recommend it too highly.

On Thursday there is the LoveWords event organised  by the Federation of Writers (Scotland) . It is a drop-in event where members will read poems on the theme of love, which will take place at the GOMA in Glasgow from 2 – 6:30. I’ll be reading at about three, but there will be plenty of interesting poems whenever you arrive.

On Saturday at the Scottish Poetry Library, the official launch of The Territory of Rain will happen Full details here. It would be nice to see anyone who can make it!

And on Wednesday 24th February, at 7pm at Old Gala House, Galashiels, I will be attending the launch of Issue 27 of the excellent Borders magazine, Eildon Tree.  I have two poems appearing in it, which I hope to be reading.