Rab Wilson

Rab Wilson (born 1 September 1960, New Cumnock, Ayrshire) is a Scottish poet who writes mainly in the Scots language. His works include a Scots translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the poetry books Accent o the Mind, Life Sentence, and A Map for the Blind.[1]

Life

He held an engineering apprenticeship with the National Coal Board, working at Barony Pit in Ayrshire, but gave up mining as a result of the UK miners' strike (1984–1985) and instead trained as a psychiatric nurse.[2][3]

As well as poetry, he has also campaigned on health issues, for the rights of health workers to speak openly about their concerns and act as whistleblowers.[4][5][6]

In 2012 he spoke to lawyers at the 4th European Collaborative Conference.[7]

He is closely connected with Scottish national poet Robert Burns, who was also from Ayrshire. Wilson worked on the project Burnsiana with Calum Colvin[8] and discovered that Burns may have taken part of Tam O' Shanter from English poet Edmund Bolton.[9]

In 2013 he was selected as the first James Hogg Creative Resident, living and writing in Ettrick Valley, home of the poet and writer James Hogg.[10][11]

He won the 2008 McCash Scots poetry competition.[3]

In 2009 he jokingly threatened to behead Conservative politician Kenneth Baker while giving the address to the haggis at the Wordsworth Trust Book Festival Burns Night.[3]

Works

The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam

His free translation of The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam was published in 2010.

The Jolly Beggars

Wilson adapted Robert Burns' The Jolly Beggars for the stage.[12] It was a runner-up for the 2007 McLellan Award for Play Writing.[13]

Ye're There Horace!

Ye're There Horace! was an art book based on the Roman satirist Horace, made in conjunction with artist Hugh Bryden.[1][14]

Burnsiana

Burnsiana is a collaboration with artist Calum Colvin, producing an art exhibition and book featuring poems written by Wilson in response to the work of Robert Burns. Colvin produced artworks by painting Burns-related images onto rooms full of objects.[8]

Other poetry

His other works include the 15-sonnet sequence 1957 Flying Scot, a tribute to a Scottish bicycle manufacturer's marque, Flying Scot. The sequence has been performed as far afield as Brooklyn.[15]

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References
  1. "Rab Wilson". Scottish Book Trust. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  2. "Rab Wilson". Scottish Poetry Library. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  3. "Scots wha hae seen top Tory put to the knife". The Scotsman. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  4. "Rab Wilson says nomination for Burns award 'doubly welcome'". Cumnock Chronicle. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  5. McArdle, Helen (25 November 2013). "Whistleblower takes NHS case to Scottish Parliament". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  6. "Health board accused of 'serious failings' by information commissioner". The Scotsman. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  7. Forsyth, John (11 June 2012). "Poetic justice: delegates left pond'ring value of a rhyming verse or two". The Scotsman. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  8. "New take on work of Robert Burns". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  9. Kelly, Stuart (31 October 2009). "Did Burns steal ideas from an English poet?". The Scotsman. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  10. "Poet Rab Wilson named as first James Hogg writer-in-residence". BBC. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  11. "Full Report: Scottish poet heads to the hills". ITV News. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  12. "Liam Logan meets Scots poet, Rab Wilson". BBC. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  13. "Rhyme time". Southern Reporter. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  14. "Rab Wilson's new book on the satires of Horace". BBC. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  15. Kuntzman, Gersh (2 April 2012). "Call It 'Spoke and Word' Night at Red Lantern Bicycles". New York Times. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
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