Starts 1st February 2010, Edinburgh
Carry a Poem is an initiative by the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust. It is the fourth citywide reading campaign to take place in Edinburgh, and is being run in conjunction with the Scottish Poetry Library and City of Edinburgh Libraries. The campaign launches formally on 1st February 2010, with a range of events and celebrations.
Ali Bowden, Director of the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust said ‘In February we want everyone in the city to start carrying poetry with them – in their head, their hearts, their pockets, their phones, on the fridge door, on their desk – everywhere!’
Dr Gavin Wallace, Head of Literature at the Scottish Arts Council, said “With a beautiful simplicity, Carry A Poem is a wonderfully imaginative way of engaging a whole city in the unique immediacy and infinity that only the art of poetry can offer.”
Liz McGettigan, Head of Libraries and Information Services for City of Edinburgh Council added “Poetry is funny, beautiful, sad, modern, quaint and insightful and so much more.”
Robyn Marsack from The Scottish Poetry Library commented “We’re used to thinking of poems as something we reserve for special occasions – to help us find the words for weddings, naming ceremonies, funerals. But poetry doesn’t have to be kept for best. The Carry a Poem reading campaign is about celebrating poems as an enriching, essential part of our everyday lives.”
So where can you get a copy of the book ?
Free books, along with special pocketcards featuring poems, will be distributed from 1st February 2010. Try your local library on 1st February for a copy, or come along to a Carry a Poem event – but be warned, as the books are always very popular and disappear quickly. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!
- Edinburgh’s 26 public libraries
- Carry a Poem events
- Selected cafes across Edinburgh
- Job centres & leisure centres
- CLAN Edinburgh to adult learner groups
Edinburgh schools will receive editions of the book – for more details, visit the Schools section of the official website.
What’s on ?
Check out the events page to see what’s on. Don’t delay in reserving or booking events. If you have any further questions, visit the help page on the site.
We're carrying this poem on our iPhone
Please visit the Carry a Poem flickr group for more pictures of who is carrying what (and how).
You might actually be better looking for photos at the Carry a Poem Flickr group rather than the Carry a Poem Flickr account – it’ll have more photos as there will be other people contributing!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1279846@N25/
Thank you for the comment, but the original flickr link is the one requested we use by the people running the campaign. We are happy to leave your link under the article though.