Makar Poet: A makar is a term from Scottish literature for a poet or bard, often thought of as royal court poet, although the term can be more generally applied.

Each year we ask a prominent or up and coming Scottish Poet to act as our Makar for the year. The poet is required to attend Federation events and contribute poetry inspired by the events to the Federation.

Makar Poet 2008/2009: Robin Cairns
Robin Cairns is a performance poet. Having written plays, music and journalism he turned to verse by chance on millenium night in Manchester Airport. He had no idea it could be so much fun. To many people Robin is a comic poet. To himself he is a poet using comedy as a way of buying time to offer his tuppenceworth to the world.

Robin travels to perform across Scotland on a regular basis, at poetry nights, slams, comedy clubs, ceilidhs (lots of ceilidhs) after-dinner engagements, in schools, in libraries, rock festivals, arts festivals, what have you got? He has had work published in various collections, including "Skein Of Geese" (the book resulting from the gathering at the Stanza poetry festival of 100 poets) and "Glasgow Tales" published by Endpapers. A short collection of his work "Last Man With Sky" is in print and available to buy.

Robin is never happier than when he has an audience laughing - as long as he knows he has something up his sleeve to squeeze a tear out of them soon.

Makar Poet 2007/2008: A C Clark
A C Clarke has published: The Gallery on the Left (Akros) and her first full collection, Breathing Each Other In, (Blinking Eye Press). This year she won the Brownsbank Poetry Competition and was short-listed for the Hamish Canham award. She is the 'Makar' for the Federation of Writers for 2007-2008.

To purhase a collection of the Makar Poems please visit the Market.