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A review by bgg616
The Bonniest Companie by Kathleen Jamie
5.0
Virtual Crossways 2021 was the Third Annual Irish Scottish Literary Festival. The focus this year was Irish language and Scottish Gaelic poetry. The Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie shared a session with Dublin poet Paula Meehan. Both poets write in English. Meehan is one of my favorite poets and after hearing Jamie, I ordered several of her books.
The Bonniest Companie contains many poems that focus on nature. Much of Jamie poetry uses Scottish terms that are part of the Scots language. It is sometimes labeled a dialect, but the difference between a dialect and a language is considered by linguists to be a political question. As a linguist, I resist the term dialect. The meanings in Jamie's poems are transparent, and familiarity as well as context, helps the reader to "translate".
Jamie's poems shine a light on Scotland's stunning terrain and nature. Some of her poems are set in urban settings or suburbs. Her poems are short and succinct. Wonderful bites!
Highly recommended.
The Bonniest Companie contains many poems that focus on nature. Much of Jamie poetry uses Scottish terms that are part of the Scots language. It is sometimes labeled a dialect, but the difference between a dialect and a language is considered by linguists to be a political question. As a linguist, I resist the term dialect. The meanings in Jamie's poems are transparent, and familiarity as well as context, helps the reader to "translate".
Jamie's poems shine a light on Scotland's stunning terrain and nature. Some of her poems are set in urban settings or suburbs. Her poems are short and succinct. Wonderful bites!
Highly recommended.