The Last Woman Born reading
Greetings,
A quick reminder of the visit of Sharon Black to St Andrews on Wednesday to read from her new volume of poetry, The Last Woman Born on the Island, which I have read with great pleasure. Sharon and I grew up 3 minutes walk from each other in Glasgow, but only met at Aberdeen University before both teaching English in Japan. Our paths then diverged. She moved to France with her husband Alex, became a mother to two daughters, and began to write poetry – this is her third full collection. In November 2020 she took part in an online Chaplaincy event, reading alongside John Burnside, Barbara Davey, Kenneth Steven and Michael Symmons Roberts. Here she is with her old friend taken last year in Taynuilt, Argyll:
She’ll be reading poems from her brand new book exploring life in Scotland and in France, not least in a poem called Feet which juxtaposes memories of her time in Glasgow with life in France, Glasgow on the left page, France on the right page. One section recalls a Festival of Tripe – yes, really – which took place in her village when Maya and I were visiting a few years ago. Here’s the section:
The Right…
potters round the Festival du Tripe,
bowls of watery soup, degustations
courtesy of the Alès tripe guild masters,
brass band, mayor’s speech,
Bernard flipping galettes
stuffed with pelardons, confitures
Here’s a picture of the very festival, in St André de Valborgne:
All are welcome at this free event (the poetry reading I mean, not another tripe festival) this Wednesday 26 October at 7.30 pm in the ante-chapel of St Leonard’s Chapel in the grounds of St Leonards School. Access is from South Street near the Cathedral, or from the Pends. Refreshments will be served – to accompany laughter and poignancy.
Yours,
Donald.