“The late David Kaye recalled hearing a snatch of conversation on the street in the Gorbals … in the 1950s. In response to a neighbour’s question, Ach, are you weel?, came the response: Oy, vay’z mir, ich hob ayn gey sair heid” —via @scotslanguage.bsky.social www.scotslanguage.com/articles/nod...

Oh ye, wha in your oors o ease, ‍‍ ‍‍Are fashed wi golochs, mauks, an flees, Fell stingin wasps an bumble bees, Tak tent o this: There’s ae sma pest that’s waur nor these To mar your bliss… —W.R. Darling, “The Pest” Oor Mither Tongue: An Anthology of Scots Vernacular Verse (Alexander Gardner, 1937)

We were oot for oor usual dauner roond the toun, Tam and me, and had stopped for a pech at the tap o the hill, whaur they’re plannin tae build eichty new hooses if naebody objects, and probably even if they dae … —James Robertson, “Bible Talk” #FlashFiction www.thebottleimp.org.uk/2008/05/bibl...

These favourite words from the Scots language include everything from 'moger' to 'skelf'.

Afro-Scottish Poetry Event 2025 25 July, Glasgow. Tickets £0–£10 A multicultural evening of poetry, music, & storytelling that celebrates African & Scottish identities through powerful performances. Created & curated by Chisom Okoronkwo with U Belong Glasgow www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/afro-scott...

'Whit a wonder it wud be, fur young Scots tae hae thir ain wey ae talkin (ae bein) validatit ootwae the confines ae the iver-ignored literary sphere.' From Colin Bramwell's report, 'Oan Scots and Respair', published in PN Review 283: www.pnreview.co.uk/archive/oan-...

Here lies our land: every airt Beneath swift clouds, glad glints of sun, Belonging to none but itself… —Kathleen Jamie, “Here lies our land” A poem commissioned in 2014 to mark the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn – fought #OTD, 24 June, 1314 – & inscribed on the Bannockburn monument

Here's a link to the poem: auldnorse.wordpress.com/2025/01/18/m...

Colin Mackenzie (@dgplacenames.bsky.social) recently was a joint winner of the Scots Language Society's "Hugh McDiarmid Tassie" for his #alliterative #poem, "Merry Dancers". #alliteration #poetry #drottkvaett #poetrysky #poetrycommunity #alliterativeverse www.facebook.com/groups/82376...

NEW TODAY! - Ahead of tonight's launch event @byleaveswelive.bsky.social, @paulmalgrati.bsky.social reviews 'Esther', a new poetic play by David Kinloch and another milestone in the recent Esther Inglis Revival. Read the full review here - wp.me/p3nrhP-jwo

Der a ön o haet ida gairden here, Whaar da sun-flooer proodly staands, An dark-red roses trowe da green Laek da lowe fae fiery braands… —T.A. Robertson (“Vagaland”), “Haem Tochts” published in The Collected Poems of Vagaland (Shetland Times, 1975) www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/haem-to...

Oxford English Dictionary is hoaching with new Scottish words

✨SCOTLANDSFEST 2025✨ 👤Clive Young 📍St Columba's by the Castle, Edinburgh 📆 4 August ⏰ 3pm 🎟 buff.ly/1buT6pt #EdinburghWhatsOn #ScotlandsFest25 #Fringe #EdinburghFringe

Queerness in Scotland has always existed, hidden in medieval manuscripts, coded in Jacobite poetry, or expressed through the arts. In the first of a 3-part series, @nationalgalleries.bsky.social explores queer artforms & artists from Scotland, past & present #Pride 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKBC...

🌟 Exciting news! 🌟 Cat Wumman, the second short story collection by Gerda Stevenson, is coming this September! 📚✨ Explore contemporary Scottish life through the rich Scots language, inspired by folk tales from Scotland, Japan, the Mississippi swamps and Inuit culture. #CatWumman #ScotsLanguage

The Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages recognised Scots as a minority language in 2000 and the UK Govt ratified Scots as such in 2001 under Part II of the Charter. So now Strasbourg, Edinburgh & London all see Scots as a language. www.coe.int/en/web/europ...

🗳️ Politicians in #Scotland voted this week for new powers to encourage greater use of Scots and Gaelic - and to make them official languages. It's quite a landmark vote! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (pinging @leaskyd.bsky.social at the start of the thread as we've chatted about this before!) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Plans tae forder and uphaud the uise o Gaelic and Scots hae been passed by the Scots Pairliament. www.gov.scot/news/scottis...

The motion tae pass the Scottish Languages Bill is bein pit afore MSPs in the Scottish Parliament's main chamber the day. Ye kin watch stage 3 o the proceedins in Holyrood efter 2pm here: www.scottishparliament.tv

Leafing through the Scottish National Dictionary and I think ‘scroosh’ really needs to make a comeback…

FAO teachers! There's still time tae enter yer pupils' wirk intae the @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social Young Scots Writer o the Year competition. www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-...

Grateful for the TLS for this chance to compare Dunbar and Henryson to The Krankies and Bovril and pie, in a piece on the religious tradition in Scottish poetry. www.the-tls.co.uk/literature/p...

For existing poetry fans, but also for anyone who’s ever felt that poetry isn’t for them, do give Poyums by @lenniesaurus.bsky.social a try. Bold, honest, often funny, and deeply relatable, this is a bookseller and customer favourite! #poetry #funny #feminist #booksky #scottish #scots #fierce

An aunt of mine remarked to me: ‘Ah’m no froom Bit whan Ah see them Ee’in the trayfi meat It scunners me.’ I found this very striking. —AC Jacobs, “Dear Mr Leonard” 5/6

Make a splash in our new 50 Word Fiction competition for June. 💦 What lengths will you go to with prizes from @literarygifts.bsky.social and @leughleabhar.bsky.social up for grabs!

#ScottishPoetryEvents Fri 30th May, 7pm Locavore, Victoria Rd Glasgow Southside Hosted by Carla Woodburn & Christie Williamson Open Mic. BYOB. Raffle. Cake. Free.

There seems to be a very welcome increase in poetry events around Scotland. We'll list as many of them as we hear about: under #ScottishPoetryEvents Main focus will be regular poetry nights, open mics, slams, festival events, group readings. Let us know if you're organising or taking part.

Authors Dr @kerriandrewsuk.bsky.social & Merryn Glover discuss how Nan Shepherd has inspired their own walking & writing, followed by a book-signing & the matinee performance of Nan Shepherd: Naked & Unashamed 11 June @pitlochryft.bsky.social – £3 www.pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on/mer...

Place-names make a unique contribution to our understanding of how we humans have interacted with our environment over the centuries. Join us for six lectures exploring Scottish place-names, sponsored by Ordnance Survey. Free online tickets are still available: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rhind-lect...

McLELLAN POETRY COMPETITION Poems in English or Scots £1000 prizes for English poem and Scots poem Closing Date: 15 June 2025 Judge: Jim Carruth Prize-winners will be invited to read at the award ceremony on Isle of Arran on Fri 29 Aug 2025 Details: www.arrantheatreandarts.co.uk/poetry-compe...

Should our self-check outs be in our own Scots language? Lidl thinks so! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @lidlgb.bsky.social has been searching for a Scottish voice for new self-checkouts in a £3m investment to be rolled out all across Scotland to improve the customer experience. What do you think? #lidl #scotslanguage

#ScottishPoetryEvents Hidden Doors Festival runs in Edinburgh from 11-15 June. Each day has a poetry double bill, featuring: Aileen Lees + Imogen Stirling Charles Lang + Hugh McMillan JD Henshaw + Julia Sorensen Sarah Forbes Stewart + Theresa Muñoz Josh Cake (solo) hiddendoorarts.org/tickets/

You got until the 1st June to enter the St Teneu Poetry Competition, which is part of the Glasgow 850 anniversary celebrations. St Teneu was the mother of St Mungo, co-patron saint of Glasgow. This interview between Sam Tongue and Peter Clive explains everything! soundcloud.com/scottishpoet...

I work for Scottish Book Trust and we’re running a survey for parents/teachers/kids book enthusiasts about how they find books for kids. I’d be enormously grateful if anyone can spare 5-10 mins to share their thoughts. #KidLitUK forms.office.com/e/EdVhWA0T0n

Scots Language Publication Grant 2025 is open for applications. Closes on Wed 18 June. Created to support publishers to publish & promote work written in Scots. Covering costs e.g. editing, advances, illustrations/design, typesetting, printing & marketing. www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-...

Applications shut oan Wednesday 18 June ⬇️🤞

Hamish Henderson, Burns & Music 21 June, Dundee – free Prof Fred Freeman talks about two great songsters & poets, Hamish Henderson & Robert Burns – both of whom redefined Scottish culture & provided a national & international vision of the country www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hamish-hen...

Rock an’ stane lay glisterin’ on aa the heichs abune. Cool an’ kind an’ whisperin’ it drifted gently doon, till hill an’ howe war rowed in it, an’ land an’ sea war gane. Aa was still an’ saft an’ silent in the smoky smirr o rain. —George Campbell Hay, “The Smoky Smirr o’ Rain” in WIND ON LOCH FYNE

The @scotslanguage.bsky.social website has the text of the traditional lyrics – along with an audio recording of “MacPherson's Rant” performed by Ewan McVicar, vocal & guitar, with Colin Campbell on the fiddle. www.scotslanguage.com/articles/nod...

Calling all publishers working with writers in Scots!✍️ The Scots Language Publication Grant is currently open to applications, covering the publication of new work and the reprinting of culturally significant works. Find out more and apply here. . .

Len Pennie joined us at the #Nibbies to receive her award for Book of the Year: Discover 📕 #BritishBookAwards

Creating a reading culture starts with listening. The #ReadingSchools Attitude Surveys help you hear from pupils, staff and families, shaping a school where reading is for everyone.

What will you write for this year's 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱'𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀? Submit your story by 6 June to be in with a chance of being published in our new book, 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 – out in November just in time for Book Week Scotland!

The New Glasgow Looking Glass arrived back from the printers today. It’s a satirical newspaper only 200 years after the last published issue. Join us on 7th June at its launch. www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/exhi... #glasgow #comic #satire #news

Calling all young poets! Looking for a free open mic to get your poems out there, or a free online workshop to help you get inspired? Young Poets Network has got you covered! Head to poetrysociety.org.uk/events to find out more about our upcoming events for poets of all ages.

A feel fur thon wee Lewis keelies stuck in Lunnon Goggle-e’ed wi chowin the taps aff their shields, Haimseek fur Norroway ower the faem. —Jim Alison, “Ingaunees” originally published as a poster for @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social A #Scots #poem for #InternationalMuseumDay

See thon raws o flint arraheids in oor gret museums o antiquities awful grand in Embro – Dae’ye near’n daur wunner at wur histrie? Weel then, Bewaur! The museums of Scotland are wrang… —Kathleen Jamie, “Arraheids” published in SELECTED POEMS (Picador 2018) A #Scots #poem for #InternationalMuseumDay

Dundee Book Festival 12–15 June Tickets are now available for the brand-new Dundee Book Festival, a celebration of books & writers taking place in June in venues across the city dundeebookfestival.com