The Poems: A Visit to Planet Auschwitz

Some of these poems have already been published on-line at http://www.poemhunter.com/sheena-blackhall . The poems were written in the two weeks after the poet visited Krakow in July 27th -31st, 2009, during which time she visited Auschwitz with her son Morven. The cover is copied by Sìne NicTheàrlaich from a painting by David Bloch, a German-Jewish artist who was interned at Dachau. The linking historical data within this pamphlet is taken from various sources all on-line and in the public domain. Published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire August 2009

The Barley Queen : The Poems

Some of these poems and pieces of prose have already been published. Growing Down , Bannockburn 1314 & Bannockburn Crow, appear on http://www.poemhunter.com/sheena-blackhall . An e-book of selected poems by Sheena Blackhall also appears on this site.
The Twa Corbies appears on-line at as part of the Scottish Book Trust’s initiative into books that changed our lives. www.scottishbooktrust.com/.../sheena-blackhalls-story-about-border-ballads
Poems from pps 1-22 were mainly written at Dhanakosa, WWW.DHANAKOSA.COM June 5-12th or on the two weeks returning from retreat there. Catriona was written at Fadlydyke, New Deer, Aberdeenshire after a tour around the livestock and crops.

As part of the duties of Makar for Aberdeen and the North East, poems or songs are occasionally written, either by commission, request, or because the Makar feels motivated to do so. The Turra Coo, A Sang o Portsoy, Doric in a Suit, The Maiden o Drumdurno & the Bullers o Buchan fall into this category.

The Poems: Peacock

The Yalla Yeitie was broadcast by Robbie Shepherd on The Reel Blend, Radio Scotland. Several poems and songs were written during the poet’s time as Writer in Residence at Aberdeen University’s 09 Word Festival. Poems from pages 4- 21 were inspired by the Aberdeen Artist Society’s 75th Exhibition, (2-30th May 2009). Others were written during a retrospective exhibition of the works of James Furneaux at Peacock Visual Art Gallery (18thApril- 30th May 2009). Water of Life / Uisge Beatha was written during a workshop at the International Conference of Poetry & Childhood at the British Library, www.bl.uk run by the University of Cambridge, (20-21/4/09). The cover is copied from a traditional Mehndi pattern.

The Poems: Danse Macabre: Writings Round a Festival. Poems & Songs in Scots & English

The pamphlet Danse Macabre: Writings Round a Festival:Poems and Songs in Scots and English was written by Sheena Blackhall during her time as Writer in Residence at Aberdeen University’s Word Festival 2009. www.abdn.ac.uk/word It was published by Lochlands, Maud, Aberdeenshire, and circulated at the event. Hidden Sairs featured in the Elphinstone Institute Newsletter. The Wye the Coyote Howls appears on the Elphinstone Kist www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/kist. Flapper the Whale & Mister Minger are part of Nae Bad Ava, a poetry anthology for children, published by the Reading Bus. http://www.readingbus.co.uk/. The cover is a photomontage by Sine NicThearlaich of the Danse Macabre:XXII: The Priest by Holbein.