Rab Wilson

Ryan chats with Scots poet Rab Wilson. They discuss mining, Pablo Neruda, Scots poetry, Arabic translation and we get to hear a few poems from Rab himself. Presented by Ryan Van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: splpodcast@gmail.com

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First published 3 June, 2010

About Rab Wilson

Rab Wilson was born in the Ayrshire village of New Cumnock on 1st September 1960. He now lives there with his wife and daughter. His major work to date is his 'owersettin', in Scots, of the famous medieval Persian work The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam. The late Prof. Philip Hobsbaum (ex chair of English Literature, Glasgow University) has described this work as 'an astonishing feat'.

In 2005 he was chosen as part of the Scottish Poetry Library's Poetry Link Scheme, being paired up with the MSP and Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson, and wrote three new poems, one of which was published in the Herald, the others being posted on the our web-site.

His first major collection of poetry, Accent o the mind , was launched in Spring 2006, again published by Luath Press of Edinburgh, at Scotland's leading poetry festival StAnza. This book was very well received and was described in the Scotland On Sunday as containing 'poetry to rival the best published in Scotland, or written by a Scot, in the past 30 years'.

In January 2009, he launched Chuckies fir the Cairn, an anthology of poets from Dumfries and Galloway. Wilson stated that "Ah wantit tae create a buik o poems that was a delicht. Enjoyable, accessible an a pleasuir fir fowk tae read. The makars in this buik dinnae jist write in the leid – they leeve it! Tae hear them read is tae hear a souch o Scotland that is in vera much danger o passin awa."

About Omar Khayyam

Omar Khayyam (born 18 May 1048 AD, Neyshapur, Iran—1131 AD, Neyshapur, Iran), was a Persian Muslim polymath, mathematician, philosopher, astronomer, physician, and poet. He wrote treatises on mechanics, geography, and music. A Persian ruba'i is a two line stanza with two parts (or hemistechs) per line, hence the word "Rubaiyat", (derived from the Arabic root word for 4), meaning "quatrains".

We recommend...

	The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam by Rab Wilson Edinburgh : Luath, 2004. Transformed into Lowland Scots, Rab Wilson's version of The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam leaves behind the souks, bazaars and taverns of medieval Persia and transports us to the bustling urban scenes of modern, inner-city Scotland. SPL shelfmark: 3.Wil
	Chuckies fir the Cairn edited by Rab Wilson Edinburgh : Luath, 2009. Scotland has build great literature out of its richly textured language. Like the stones bound together in a wall, the poets linked here by location and shared language embody the beauty of their country and the passion 'pulsin through its heirt'. SPL shelfmark: 2.4148

Find out more...

• Search SPL catalogue and borrow these items

Related links...

• More about Rab on the Dumfries and Galloway community website
• More about Omar Khayyam
• More about Pablo Neruda
  

Image: Rab Wilson