by Colette Bryce
Liz Lochhead, 'one of Scotland's most dazzling national treasures' (Scotsman), will be visiting Dundee to read from her long-awaited new collection of poems The Colour of Black and White. The event will take place at DCA, 152 Nethergate, on Wednesday 3 December, 7.30pm. For tickets, call the box office on: 01382 909900. Poetry at DCA is organised by the University in collaboration with Dundee Contemporary Arts.
A Night In
by Liz Lochhead
Darling, tonight I want to celebrate
not your birthday, no, nor mine.
It's not the anniversary of when we met,
first went to bed or got married, and the wine
is supermarket plonk. I'm just about to grate
rat-trap cheddar on the veggie bake that'll do us fine.
But it's far from the feast that - knowing you'll be soon,
and suddenly so glad to just be me and here,
now, in our bright kitchen - I wish I'd stopped and gone
and shopped for, planned and savoured earlier.
Come home! It's been a long day. Now the perfect moon
through our high windows rises round and clear.
(from The Colour of Black and White, Poems 1984-2003)
Do you write poetry? Have you ever thought of having a go? Contact is delighted to announce the launch of the University poetry competition 2004 with cash, book token and champagne prizes.
The competition, now in its second year, aims to kindle the spirit of creativity, among those who might not previously have thought of expressing their ideas poetically as well as those already engaged in creative writing throughout the University community. The initiative is being run by writer in residence Colette Bryce, in association with John Smith's bookshop who have generously donated the second prize of a £50 book token. There is a new first prize of £100 and one runner up will win a bottle of champagne. All three winning poems will be published in Contact magazine next year.
Colette will be joined by Jim Stewart from the Department of English in judging this year’s competition. Entry forms are available from the Tower reception, John Smith’s Campus Bookshop and the department of English or can be downloaded from www.dundee.ac.uk/presoffice. The closing date for entries is 31 January 2004.