Addressing the Bard

Twelve contemporary poets respond to Robert Burns

In the year of Homecoming, the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns's birth, the Scottish Poetry Library published a new, provocative and exciting anthology of Burns poems.

What makes this anthology different, is that 12 contemporary poets have been asked to select one of Burns's poems and respond to it. The result is an eclectic collection with some unexpected choices and responses that enlighten, challenge and amuse us. All of the response poems provide insight into Burns's original work and some may have a more direct resonance with modern readers.

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You can also download the 'Addressing the Bard' collection as a PDF file.

Addressing the Bard: Learning ideas

To accompany the collection, the Scottish Poetry Library has produced a set of supporting resources and learning ideas. These provide tasks and questions examining various aspects of the poems and responses, and are intended as a starting point for further discussion and study.