Clyde

In Clyde: my river G W Colkitto takes us on an extended journey that travels as much through time as place. Deftly weaving together scenes from childhood to adulthood, from family to social commentary and politics with a river that is itself as much a character as the parents, brothers, royalty and worker who populate these poems, Colkitto conjures a tone that is at once wistful and precise; that is both astute and deeply humane. Whether working with long declamatory lines or a tumble of short drum beats, this is poetry that is alive to the power of language and all the ways in which we connect. Beneath a surface simplicity there is not only enormous craft at work, but layers of meaning beckoning us back to read and read again and find something new each time.

'Suspension Bridge'

I thought it exotic
as if California came to Glasgow
wanted to paint it gold