Skald
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It has already been stated that Ian Crockatt should be
merited a gold star for his use of language. And few who read this
stunning work will think otherwise. The Skalds were professional
poets employed by the kings of the Viking courts between the 9th and
13th centuries, in essence recording glorious victories and fallen
heroes that would in turn become legends. However, from such a
ragged existence uniformity is the name of the game here, and in
these octets with their six syllable lines, the lively narrative, be
it brutal or tender, lifts these words from the page. Disturbing.
Vivid. Tender. For the full impact of these poems, though, pick up
this book, pace the floor and read it out aloud!
Skald appeared in the
Poetry Book Society Listings in Spring 2009
Comments on Skald:
A
gold star should go to Ian Crockatt for Part 2 of his epic
SKALD.
His use of language is riveting….I would urge you to read this aloud
to appreciate the rhythms and impact of Crockatt’s chosen
words….stunning work” New
Hope International
His collection
Blizzards of the
Inner Eye
has marked him out as one of the
strongest poets now writing in Scotland — this is excitingly
confirmed by
The Lyrical
Beast, Rhoda Michael,
NorthWords Now
…They are spicy, vividly narrated and stay with the reader. Balanced
by the tenderness of some of the love poems this volume (Blizzards
of the Inner Eye) impresses
with the vitality of Crockatt’s work: concise, visionary and
occasionally disturbing, this is a serious voice. Orbis
I’ve read nothing like this
(Original Myths)
in Scottish poetry. Imagine Ted Hughes’ Crow as Edwin Morgan might
have written it.
Fife Lines
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Sample Poem
Viking
Spring
This: barley green as grass
swaying in gusty May;
its clouds of brandished blades.
This: ghost-blurs from the coast,
hoar-brained crows cawing, haar
fingering the halting
hearts and limbs of lambs
willed to life on the hill.
And this: wing-whirr of
geese,
wind-arrows in narrow
formation confirming
sea-currents still foment
their baleful heat, hot blood
and gold-greed still breed in
the mind; sea-wolves still found
fine steel in hearts: yours; mine.
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Bio: Ian Crockatt has published 5 collections
of poetry to date, the last two being BLIZZARDS OF THE INNER EYE (Peterloo
Poets, 2003) and THE LYRICAL BEAST (CD, Salix Publications, 2004).
He was assisted in work on the latter, and production of the CD, by
a Scottish Arts Council bursary and a Banff and Buchan Arts Forum
grant. ORIGINAL MYTHS, (Cruachan Publications, 2001), with etchings
by Paul Fleming, was short-listed for the Saltire Society’s Scottish
Book of the Year Award. He is currently working on a selection of
translations of Rilke’s poetry with a view to publication by ARC
Publications, and with the support of a second Scottish Arts Council
bursary. He lives on a croft in North Aberdeenshire with his wife
Wenna, who is a ceramic artist and Adult Learning Co-ordinator. |
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