Benjamin Zephania

 

                                        Benjamin Zephania 15 April 1958 - 7 December 2023

There is a small display of books by the poet and author Benjamin Zephania who died on 7th December 2023.

Burns Night

 The 25th of January is recognised around the world as the day on which the Scottish bard, Robert Burns, is remembered. Burns was born on this day in 1759 in Alloway, a small village in Ayrshire. His first book of poems was published in 1786. Now, some 264 years later his poems are still quoted and recited by many people. One of his best known songs-Auld Lang Syne- is sung on many occasions including Hogmanay.

To find out more about one of Scotland's most famous sons visit the Library (Room F21) where there is a display of books about Robert Burns and books of his poetry.

National Poetry Day

 Thursday 7th October is National Poetry Day. Celebrate by reading or writing some poetry, or join Mrs Aitken in F27 at 12.30 to create your own 'blackout poems'. For inspiration come and see the display of poetry books in the Library.

Watch this You Tube video about how to create your own blackout poem:

World Poetry Day March 21st

 A couple of book related poems by Brian Bilston for World Poetry Day:

a little learning

one thing

I have learnt

as I've got older

is that books

light up life

and make it smoulder

and that beauty 

is in the eye

of the book holder.

Burns Night

 Robert Burns was born on the 25th January 1759 and every year on this date people around the world celebrate Scotland's bard by holding Burns' suppers. The very first Burns supper was held in memory of the bard at Burns Cottage by some of his friends on 21st July 1801 the fifth anniversary of his death. 

Burns has written some very famous songs and poems including Auld lang syne; Tae a mouse; Address to a haggis; A man's a man for a' that; Aye fond kiss; My love is like a red, red rose and Tam O'Shanter.

Read these and more of his poems on the Scottish Poetry Library's website

Quick Reading Challenge

An art and craft challenge today. Do you have any old books that you no longer read but which are not in a good enough condition to pass on? Then why not use a page or two and do some blackout poetry. You could use a newspaper or magazine instead, anything with text.Your result can be as artistic as you want or as pathetic as my own (the one in the middle of the pic below!) Read through the page you have selected and pick out words which form a poem or story on their own. Then use a marker pen to blackout the words you don't want.
 Have fun.
Be inspired.

Daily reading Challenge

Read a poem today. If you do not have a poetry book nearby you could access The Scottish Poetry Library  to find one. Why not try and learn a poem off by heart? Or write one of your own?

Daily reading Challenge

Wednesday
Finding it difficult to concentrate on reading during these uncertain times? Enjoy a challenge? Today read either a complete Shakespeare sonnet or the first three pages of any Shakespeare play. You should be able to find many places online where you can access Shakespeare's work for free. Try - Google Books
or Complete Works of Shakespeare
If you enjoy what you are reading but do not want to read the whole play check to see if the play you have chosen is being shown over the internet for example
The Globe Theatre
Royal Shakespeare Company
I am going to read the first few pages of Romeo and Juliet.

Book Spine Poetry

One of the first year classes were doing some book spine poetry in the Library. Below are some of the poems/stories they made up using the titles of some fiction books.

Burns Night

If you are celebrating the life and work of Scotland's bard - Robert Burns - on Monday evening you will find many useful books in the Library to help you. There are books about planning a Burns Night supper - including recipes for making your own haggis - as well as books of Burns' poetry and biographies.

Burns Night

Sunday 25th January is Burns Night. The Library has a selection of books about Robert Burns and  how to organise a Burns supper as well a books of the Bard's poetry. Everything you need to celebrate the birth of Scotland's most famous poet can be found in the Library (well, except for the haggis...and the bagpipes!)

Burns Night

Robert Burns was born on 25th January 1759 and every year on this date people celebrate Scotland's Bard by holding Burns Suppers -  where they eat haggis and recite his poetry. If you are not familiar with the poetry of Robert Burns or if you want to know more about what happens at a Burns Supper come along to the Library where there is a display to celebrate one of Scotland's great poets.

National Poetry Day

Thursday 3rd October is National Poetry Day and this year the theme is WATER. So to celebrate all things poetic there is a display of this year's selected poems in the Library. There is also a display of books both fiction and non-fiction with a watery theme at the Library entrance.

For more facts about National Poetry Day visit the Scottish Poetry Library's website or the website of Education Scotland for information, poems and downloads.

Burns Night

To celebrate Burns Night - Friday 25th January - there is a display in the Library featuring one of the Bard's longest and best loved poems -Tam o'Shanter.

Burns was born in the family cottage in Alloway on 25th January 1759. In his short life - he died in 1796 aged just 37- he wrote over 500 poems and songs, worked as a farmer and an excise man and travelled all round Scotland.So, before you tuck in to your haggis and neeps come to the Library and learn a little more about the life and work of Robert Burns - Scotland's national poet. The display even has a recipe for making your own haggis should you need one!

Burns Night

Wednesday 25th January is Burns Night when people all over the world celebrate the life and work of Scottish poet Robert Burns by holding special Burns Night Suppers. Robert Burns was born on the 25th January 1759, by the time he died in 1796 he had written many poems in the Scots dialect including: Tam o' Shanter, Tae a mouse, Aye fond kiss, Auld lang syne and Aman's a man for a' that.
The display in the Library focuses on the poem Aye fond kiss but also provides lots of inspiration for food to have at a Burns Supper, including a lovely recipe for making haggis!

Remembrance Day - 11.11.11

Visit the Library to find out everything you need to know about Remembrance Day. Why is there two minutes silence at eleven o'clock on the eleventh of November? Why do we wear poppies? Who wrote In Flanders Field? There is a mixture of fiction, poetry and non-fiction books on display.

You might find these books interesting:

National Poetry day

Thursday 7th October is National Poetry Day. This year the theme is 'home'. Come to the Library to see our display of poetry on the theme of home - you might feel inspired to write your own poem!

For more information and further inspiration visit the Scottish Poetry Library website http://www.spl.org.uk/