Liz Lochhead

poet, feminist playwright, translator and broadcaster Liz Lochhead poet, feminist playwright, translator and broadcaster

Liz Lochhead’s Background Liz Lochhead was born in Motherwell, Lanarkshire in 1947. She attended the Glasgow School of Art between 1965 and 1970. After graduation, she worked as a teacher of Art in Glasgow and Bristol, a career at which Lochhead claims to have been ‘terrible’. Notes Photograph of Liz Lochhead reproduced by permission of Gordon Wright.

Liz Lochhead’s Background During the 1970s Lochhead became a member of a writer’s group. A collection of her poems was published in 1972, and it received a Scottish Arts Council Book award. Notes Photograph of Liz Lochhead reproduced by permission of Gordon Wright.

Liz Lochhead’s Background In 1978, Lochhead made her first venture into drama. During her career she has been described as a poet, feminist playwright, translator and broadcaster but has said that ‘when somebody asks me what I do I usually say writer. The most precious thing to me is to be a poet.’ Notes Photograph of Liz Lochhead reproduced by permission of Gordon Wright.

‘Riddle–Me–Ree’ My first is in life (not contained within heart) My second’s in whole but never in part. My third’s in forever, but also in vain. My last’s in ending, why not in pain? Is ‘love’ the answer? Suggested Activity Try this exercise in making the familiar unfamiliar. Describe an object but do not mention it by name, for example: ‘I am made of many things, including gold, I am round but I have a hole in my middle.’ (Answer – a ring.)

‘Kidspoem/Bairnsang’ it wis January and a gey dreich day the first day Ah went to the school so my Mum happed me up in ma good navy-blue napp coat wi the rid tartan hood birled a scarf aroon ma neck pu’ed oan ma pixie an’ ma pawkies it wis that bitter said noo ye’ll no starve gie’d me a wee kiss and a kid-oan skelp oan the bum and sent me across the playground tae the place Ah’d learn to say Notes ‘Kidspoem/Bairnsang’ by Liz Lochhead reproduced by permission of Polygon, an imprint of Birlinn Ltd.

‘Kidspoem/Bairnsang’ it was January and a really dismal day the first day I went to school so my Mother wrapped me up in my best navy-blue top coat with the red tartan hood, twirled a scarf around my neck, pulled on my bobble-hat and mittens it was so bitterly cold said now you won’t freeze to death gave me a little kiss and a pretend slap on the bottom and sent me off across the playground to the place I’d learn to forget to say

‘Kidspoem/Bairnsang’ it wis January and a gey dreich day the first day Ah went to the school so my Mum happed me up in ma good navy-blue napp coat wi the rid tartan hood, birled a scarf aroon ma neck, pu’ed oan ma pixie an’ ma pawkies it wis that bitter. Oh saying it was one thing but when it came to writing it in black and white the way it had to be said was if you were posh, grown-up, male, English and dead. Discussion Point This poem could well spark a debate between the vernacular and standard English (the dominant language of literature and literacies). Children’s earliest language is acquired in the home, but do schools build on this foundation or do they destroy it? Ask learners what their experiences are of language and schooling. Suggested Activity From the poem get learners to make a list of Scots words on one side, and on the other side the standard English equivalents. For example: Scots English dreich dismal rid red pixie scarf Ask learners to compose a poem in Scots with an English glossary. The aim of these exercises is to get learners thinking critically about literacy and their own educational experiences of it.

‘The Choosing’ We were first equal Mary and I with the same coloured ribbons in mouse coloured hair, and with equal shyness we curtseyed to the lady councillor for copies of Collin’s Children’s Classics. First equal, equally proud. Notes ‘The Choosing’ by Liz Lochhead reproduced by permission of Polygon, an imprint of Birlinn Ltd.

‘The Choosing’ Best friends too Mary and I a common bond in being cleverest (equal) in our small school’s small class. I remember the competition for top desk at school service. And my terrible fear of her superiority at sums.

‘The Choosing’ I remember the housing scheme where we both stayed. The same house, different homes, where the choices were made. I don’t know exactly why they moved, but anyway they went. Something about a three-apartment and a cheaper rent.

‘The Choosing’ But from the top deck of the high-school bus I’d glimpse among the others on the corner Mary’s father, mufflered, contrasting strangely with the elegant greyhounds by his side. He didn’t believe in high school education especially for girls, or for forking out for uniforms.

‘The Choosing’ Ten years later on a Saturday – I am coming home from the library – sitting near me on the bus, Mary with a husband who is tall curly haired, has eyes for no one else but Mary. Her arms are round the full-shaped vase that is her body. Oh, you can see where the attraction lies in Mary’s life – not that I envy her, really.

‘The Choosing’ And I am coming from the library with my arms full of books. I think of the prizes that were ours for the taking and wonder when the choices got made we don’t remember making. Suggested Activity On a sheet of paper create two columns. At the top of one column write the word ‘similarities’ and in the other ‘differences’. Ask learners to list the similarities and differences between the two girls mentioned in ‘the Choosing’. Now try these questions: Describe the girls as children and discuss what kind of relationship they had. Why did the girls end up going different ways? How would you describe their lives now they have grown up? The title of the poem is ‘The Choosing’. What’s the significance of this title?

Liz Lochhead The New Makar In 2004 Edwin Morgan was appointed Scots Makar" or "National Poet of Scotland“, but due to illness Edwin has had to give up the post. His good friend Liz Lochhead took over the title. Notes Photograph of Edwin Morgan reproduced by permission of Gordon Wright.

Liz Lochhead The New Makar The title does not carry any formal requirements. However, it does include the representation and promotion of Scottish poetry. ‘Makar’ – in case you should wonder – is an old Scottish word for ‘poet’ which is linked to the medieval Scots poets of the 15th and 16th centuries.