Edwin Morgan, Past & Present - StAnza Special Episode Free Vers(e)

For StAnza 2021, Scotland's International Poetry Festival, Free Vers(e) presents this special feature on first Scots Makar, Edwin Morgan, as part of the Past and Present Series!

Giving an introduction to our prolific and iconic gay Scottish poet, this special Free Vers(e)episode opens with a feature interview with Andrés Nicolás Ordorica, a queer Latinx writer and educator based in Edinburgh -- and one of The Second Life grantees of the Edwin Morgan Trust -- who has created a poetry film inspired by the work of Edwin Morgan, to be debuted in LGBTQ History Month 2021.

From there, Free Vers(e) looks at a cross-section of Edwin Morgan's work. This special episode is for anyone who loves poetry, Scotland, Edwin Morgan, or just learning something new.

*CW/TW content/trigger warning: homophobia & violence from 35:26-38:23*
In this section there is a reading & brief discussion of Edwin Morgan's poem 'The Pink Triangle,' which deals with gay men's persecution during the Holocaust.

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Audio Summary

00:00-26:55 Interview with Andrés Nicolás Ordorica
26:56-30:14 'The Loch Ness Monster's Song' & a note on Morgan
30:15-35:25 'The Unspoken' & World War II
35:26-38:23 'The Pink Triangle' (CW/TW homophobia & violence)
38:24-45:25 Jackie Kay, Section 28, & Edwin Morgan's privacy
45:26-47:56 'Strawberries'
47:57-Finish - What to Read Now: Annie & Éadaoín's recommendations
(& a spoiler for our next episode!)

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Links:

StAnza Poetry Festival - https://stanzapoetry.org/

Andrés Nicolás Ordorica website - https://andresordorica.com/
and Twitter - https://twitter.com/andresnordorica?lang=en

Edwin Morgan at the Scottish Poetry Library - https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poet/edwin-morgan/

The Second Life, Edwin Morgan Trust - https://edwinmorgantrust.com/the-second-life/