Eleanor Livingstone
Eleanor Livingstone is a Scottish poet, reviewer and editor who lives in Fife. Since 2005 she has been a Director of StAnza, Scotland's International Poetry Festival which takes place annually in St Andrews, and she has also worked as a para-legal and creative writing tutor.
Her publications include The Last King of Fife (HappenStance, 2005), A Sampler (HappenStance, 2008) and as editor Skein of Geese (The Shed Press, 2008) and Migraasje: Versions in Scots and Shetlandic (Stravaigers, 2008).
Even the Seawas shortlisted for the London New Poetry Award, 2009.
Two poems: Nova Scotia? and Old Dogs
ISBN 978-1-906700-24-9
£6.99 plus 99p postage and packing.
or send a cheque for £7.98 and payable to Red Squirrel Press to
Red Squirrel Press, PO Box 219, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 9AU,
with your name and address and saying you want a copy of Even the Sea.
Nova Scotia?
He's fat, bald, mid fifties, with a short beard
and earrings, exudes an air of menace
nicely wrapped. Aw right if I sit here?
He winks, and the guard blows her whistle.
It's August, festival time. He and I
have both left venues where others are still
enjoying an evening out beneath the red glow
of heaters warming up our northern sky.
From a Marks and Spencer's carrier bag
he offers smoked salmon and a soft
little Chardonnay - hail the rotten fruit!
- if I don't mind drinking from the bottle.
He's going home to Dundee. Aberdeen?
Even seagulls can't afford to eat there.
Old Dogs
Old dogs
are kinder
than old men,
their ears
still velvet soft
and kissable.
Photograph of Eleanor Livingstone © Helena Nelson 2010