#georgemackaybrown — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #georgemackaybrown, aggregated by home.social.
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“For Alexander Trocchi as much as for George Mackay Brown, the world is always in need”
—Prof Alan Riach looks at 2 startlingly different 20th-century Scottish writers: Alexander Trocchi & George Mackay Brown
7/9
#Scottish #literature #20thcentury #Trocchi #modernism #GeorgeMackayBrown
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“For Alexander Trocchi as much as for George Mackay Brown, the world is always in need”
—Prof Alan Riach looks at 2 startlingly different 20th-century Scottish writers: Alexander Trocchi & George Mackay Brown
7/9
#Scottish #literature #20thcentury #Trocchi #modernism #GeorgeMackayBrown
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And we left our beds in the dark
And we drove a cart to the hill
And we buried the jar of ale in the bog
And our small blades glittered in the dayspring
And we tore dark squares, thick pages
From the Book of Fire…—George Mackay Brown, “Peat Cutting”
published in Selected Poems: 1954–1992 (John Murray, 1996)#Scottish #literature #20thcentury #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown #poem #poetry
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And we left our beds in the dark
And we drove a cart to the hill
And we buried the jar of ale in the bog
And our small blades glittered in the dayspring
And we tore dark squares, thick pages
From the Book of Fire…—George Mackay Brown, “Peat Cutting”
published in Selected Poems: 1954–1992 (John Murray, 1996)#Scottish #literature #20thcentury #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown #poem #poetry
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“Brown’s headstone tells us who and what he was – a poet. It doesn’t say that he was Orkney’s laureate, singer of the islands, to the islanders a bringer of song, but then no-one coming to this spot would need telling.”
—Peter Alan Ross visits George Mackay Brown’s grave
https://smallfinds.substack.com/p/small-finds-4
#Scottish #literature #poets #Orkney #20thcentury #GeorgeMackayBrown #grave #cemetery
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“Brown’s headstone tells us who and what he was – a poet. It doesn’t say that he was Orkney’s laureate, singer of the islands, to the islanders a bringer of song, but then no-one coming to this spot would need telling.”
—Peter Alan Ross visits George Mackay Brown’s grave
https://smallfinds.substack.com/p/small-finds-4
#Scottish #literature #poets #Orkney #20thcentury #GeorgeMackayBrown #grave #cemetery
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To have carved on the days of our vanity
A sun
A ship
A star
A cornstalkAlso a few marks
From an ancient forgotten time
A child may read…—“A Work for Poets”: the final poem of George Mackay Brown (1921–1996) who died #OTD, 13 April
Published in CARVE THE RUNES (Polygon, 2021)
https://birlinn.co.uk/product/carve-the-runes/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #poets #Orkney #20thcentury #GeorgeMackayBrown
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To have carved on the days of our vanity
A sun
A ship
A star
A cornstalkAlso a few marks
From an ancient forgotten time
A child may read…—“A Work for Poets”: the final poem of George Mackay Brown (1921–1996) who died #OTD, 13 April
Published in CARVE THE RUNES (Polygon, 2021)
https://birlinn.co.uk/product/carve-the-runes/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #poets #Orkney #20thcentury #GeorgeMackayBrown
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Remember, man, that thou art dust.
The earl kneels, the ash of the end is written on his brow.
A captain of ships kneels, to be put in mind of a death in a far port, or at home, or on a rock of the sea.
And the boy that holds cinders for the priest,
His forehead is smeared,
Who wears a coat of fourteen Aprils…—George Mackay Brown, “Ash Wednesday”
Published in TRAVELLERS (John Murray, 2013)#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #religion #GeorgeMackayBrown #Orkney #AshWednesday
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Remember, man, that thou art dust.
The earl kneels, the ash of the end is written on his brow.
A captain of ships kneels, to be put in mind of a death in a far port, or at home, or on a rock of the sea.
And the boy that holds cinders for the priest,
His forehead is smeared,
Who wears a coat of fourteen Aprils…—George Mackay Brown, “Ash Wednesday”
Published in TRAVELLERS (John Murray, 2013)#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #religion #GeorgeMackayBrown #Orkney #AshWednesday
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George Mackay Brown was a poet of place, faith, and myth. His work stands apart from the dominant voices of 20th Century British poetry, not in opposition but in quiet defiance.
#GeorgeMackayBrown #wolink #nevermorepoem
https://www.nevermorepoem.com/archives/21773 -
On the loom of winter, shadows
gather in a web; then the
shuttle of St. Lucy makes a
pause; a dark weave
fills the room…—George Mackay Brown, “Maeshowe: Midwinter”
in FOLLOWING A LARK (John Murray, 1996)5/5
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #GeorgeMackayBrown #midwinter #solstice #Orkney #archaeology #prehistory #neolithic
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On the loom of winter, shadows
gather in a web; then the
shuttle of St. Lucy makes a
pause; a dark weave
fills the room…—George Mackay Brown, “Maeshowe: Midwinter”
in FOLLOWING A LARK (John Murray, 1996)5/5
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #GeorgeMackayBrown #midwinter #solstice #Orkney #archaeology #prehistory #neolithic
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A Dream of Snow
The Orkney writer George Mackay Brown (1921–1996) was fascinated by the Christmas story, retelling it time & again in his poems, short stories, & plays. In 2012, to mark the writer’s centenary, Edinburgh University curated this online exhibition from their major collection of George Mackay Brown books & manuscripts, covering the whole festive season from Advent through to Epiphany
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A Dream of Snow
The Orkney writer George Mackay Brown (1921–1996) was fascinated by the Christmas story, retelling it time & again in his poems, short stories, & plays. In 2012, to mark the writer’s centenary, Edinburgh University curated this online exhibition from their major collection of George Mackay Brown books & manuscripts, covering the whole festive season from Advent through to Epiphany
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Seven scythes leaned at the wall.
Beard upon golden beard
The last barley load
Swayed through the yard…—George Mackay Brown, “Taxman”
Published in CARVE THE RUNES (Polygon, 2021)https://birlinn.co.uk/product/carve-the-runes/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown #rurallife #harvest
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Seven scythes leaned at the wall.
Beard upon golden beard
The last barley load
Swayed through the yard…—George Mackay Brown, “Taxman”
Published in CARVE THE RUNES (Polygon, 2021)https://birlinn.co.uk/product/carve-the-runes/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown #rurallife #harvest
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“For Alexander Trocchi as much as for George Mackay Brown, the world is always in need”
—Prof Alan Riach looks at 2 startlingly different 20th-century Scottish writers: Alexander Trocchi & George Mackay Brown
4/6
#Scottish #literature #20thcentury #Trocchi #GeorgeMackayBrown
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“For Alexander Trocchi as much as for George Mackay Brown, the world is always in need”
—Prof Alan Riach looks at 2 startlingly different 20th-century Scottish writers: Alexander Trocchi & George Mackay Brown
4/6
#Scottish #literature #20thcentury #Trocchi #GeorgeMackayBrown
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And we left our beds in the dark
And we drove a cart to the hill
And we buried the jar of ale in the bog
And our small blades glittered in the dayspring
And we tore dark squares, thick pages
From the Book of Fire…—George Mackay Brown, “Peat Cutting”
Published in Selected Poems: 1954–1992https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/none/selected-poems-1954-1992/9781848549395/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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And we left our beds in the dark
And we drove a cart to the hill
And we buried the jar of ale in the bog
And our small blades glittered in the dayspring
And we tore dark squares, thick pages
From the Book of Fire…—George Mackay Brown, “Peat Cutting”
Published in Selected Poems: 1954–1992https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/none/selected-poems-1954-1992/9781848549395/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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Such sudden storm and drifts
We could see nothing, the boat
Fluttering in a net
Of reefs and crags…—George Mackay Brown, “Fishermen in Winter”
published in CARVE THE RUNES: Selected Poems (Polygon 2021)https://birlinn.co.uk/product/carve-the-runes/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #winter #GeorgeMackayBrown
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Such sudden storm and drifts
We could see nothing, the boat
Fluttering in a net
Of reefs and crags…—George Mackay Brown, “Fishermen in Winter”
published in CARVE THE RUNES: Selected Poems (Polygon 2021)https://birlinn.co.uk/product/carve-the-runes/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #winter #GeorgeMackayBrown
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A Dream of Snow
The Orkney writer George Mackay Brown (1921–1996) was fascinated by the Christmas story, retelling it time & again in his poems, short stories, & plays. In 2012, to mark the writer’s centenary, Edinburgh University curated this online exhibition from their major collection of George Mackay Brown books & manuscripts, covering the whole festive season from Advent through to Epiphany
https://exhibitions.ed.ac.uk/exhibitions/a-dream-of-snow
#Scottish #literature #GeorgeMackayBrown #poetry #Orkney #Christmas
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A Dream of Snow
The Orkney writer George Mackay Brown (1921–1996) was fascinated by the Christmas story, retelling it time & again in his poems, short stories, & plays. In 2012, to mark the writer’s centenary, Edinburgh University curated this online exhibition from their major collection of George Mackay Brown books & manuscripts, covering the whole festive season from Advent through to Epiphany
https://exhibitions.ed.ac.uk/exhibitions/a-dream-of-snow
#Scottish #literature #GeorgeMackayBrown #poetry #Orkney #Christmas
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Currently available on BBC Sounds, from 2021: Ian McMillan celebrates Orkney & the work of George Mackay Brown in his centenary year – with James Robertson, Alison Miller, Josie Giles & Anne Bevan
5/5
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010hrk
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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Currently available on BBC Sounds, from 2021: Ian McMillan celebrates Orkney & the work of George Mackay Brown in his centenary year – with James Robertson, Alison Miller, Josie Giles & Anne Bevan
5/5
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010hrk
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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“…a microcosm, triumphantly fusing the various arts of poet, playwright & storyteller. It shows Mackay Brown’s affinity with Seamus Heaney & with their common ancestors, Wordsworth & Clare”
—Carol Rumens on George Mackay Brown’s poem “The Horse Fair”
4/5
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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“…a microcosm, triumphantly fusing the various arts of poet, playwright & storyteller. It shows Mackay Brown’s affinity with Seamus Heaney & with their common ancestors, Wordsworth & Clare”
—Carol Rumens on George Mackay Brown’s poem “The Horse Fair”
4/5
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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My father passed with his penny letters
Through closes opening and shutting like legends
When barbarous with gulls
Hamnavoe’s morning broke…—You can listen to George Mackay Brown reading his poem “Hamnavoe” online on the Poetry Archive
3/5
https://poetryarchive.org/poem/hamnavoe/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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My father passed with his penny letters
Through closes opening and shutting like legends
When barbarous with gulls
Hamnavoe’s morning broke…—You can listen to George Mackay Brown reading his poem “Hamnavoe” online on the Poetry Archive
3/5
https://poetryarchive.org/poem/hamnavoe/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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A boy leaves a small house
Of sea light. He leaves
The sea smells, creel
And limpet and cod…—George Mackay Brown, “Island School”
in Carve the Runes: Selected Poems by George Mackay Brown, edited by Kathleen Jamie (Polygon, 2021)2/5
https://birlinn.co.uk/product/carve-the-runes/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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A boy leaves a small house
Of sea light. He leaves
The sea smells, creel
And limpet and cod…—George Mackay Brown, “Island School”
in Carve the Runes: Selected Poems by George Mackay Brown, edited by Kathleen Jamie (Polygon, 2021)2/5
https://birlinn.co.uk/product/carve-the-runes/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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Monday I found a boot –
Rust and salt leather.
I gave it back to the sea, to dance in…—“Beachcomber”, by George Mackay Brown – born #OTD, 17 Oct 1921
“I have never seen his poetry sufficiently praised.”
—Seamus Heaney1/5
https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/beachcomber/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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Monday I found a boot –
Rust and salt leather.
I gave it back to the sea, to dance in…—“Beachcomber”, by George Mackay Brown – born #OTD, 17 Oct 1921
“I have never seen his poetry sufficiently praised.”
—Seamus Heaney1/5
https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/beachcomber/
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
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On what would have been his 102nd birthday today, a poem by George Mackay Brown - A New Child: ECL.
#GeorgeMackayBrown #poetry #poem #poets #ScottishPoetry #Orkney
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On what would have been his 102nd birthday today, a poem by George Mackay Brown - A New Child: ECL.
#GeorgeMackayBrown #poetry #poem #poets #ScottishPoetry #Orkney
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“Every dance, every lifetime, is unique, and that infinity of dances from every race and from every era, is of incalculable value, and comprehends the great ceremonial dance of mankind. But the music will not be known in all its glory until it is rounded with silence.”
George Mackay Brown, from Beside the Ocean of Time (1994)
#GeorgeMackayBrown #BesideTheOceanOfTime #Silence #Novels #ScottishNovels #Bookstodon #Orkney
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“Every dance, every lifetime, is unique, and that infinity of dances from every race and from every era, is of incalculable value, and comprehends the great ceremonial dance of mankind. But the music will not be known in all its glory until it is rounded with silence.”
George Mackay Brown, from Beside the Ocean of Time (1994)
#GeorgeMackayBrown #BesideTheOceanOfTime #Silence #Novels #ScottishNovels #Bookstodon #Orkney
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"The character of human beings is, unfortunately, a fleeting thing, but the character of scenes and landscapes endures for periods that laugh at history as we know it."
#Orkney #Stromness #GeorgeMackayBrown
https://theorkneynews.scot/2023/07/18/focus-on-stromness-1949-part-2/ -
"This week, for one week only, Stromness will be the centre of Orkney. Some local merchants think it should be the centre of the islands all the time."
#Stromness #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
https://theorkneynews.scot/2023/07/17/focus-on-stromness-1949-part-1/ -
"This week, for one week only, Stromness will be the centre of Orkney. Some local merchants think it should be the centre of the islands all the time."
#Stromness #Orkney #GeorgeMackayBrown
https://theorkneynews.scot/2023/07/17/focus-on-stromness-1949-part-1/ -
I finally found an inexpensive copy of George Mackay Brown’s early (1965) volume of poems, The Year of the Whale. The cover design conjures another era altogether, one when—it seems—the publishing of “living” poets was something to be remarked upon.
The Year of the Whale contains one of my favourite of Brown’s poems, The Poet, the text of which is in the 2nd image. I've always thought those last four lines truly haunting.
#GeorgeMackayBrown #Poetry #ScottishPoetry #ScottishPoets #Bookstodon