Norman MacCaig
Norman MacCaig
Norman Alexander MacCaig OBEwas a Scottish poet and teacher. His poetry, in modern English, is known for its humour, simplicity of language and great popularity...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth14 November 1910
fishing miles five
When I go fishing I like to know that there's nobody within five miles of me.
impossible
And it's impossible for me to read Henry James.
nature love-is hills
I'm very gregarious, but I love being in the hills on my own.
true-love nice book
But I hang on to books. I love them. I even think they're very nice decor in a room - far better than paintings... That's not quite true!
liars exercise use
I learned words, I learned words; but half of them died from lack of exercise. And the ones I use often look at me with a look that whispers, Liar.
water skins branches
Landscape is my religion. ...God in a green legend, I lean over the pool In a testament of leaves. I dangle my twinkling mood Before me in a cool cave roofed with branches And floored with a skin of water.
edinburgh ridiculous euthanasia
When I was asked to be Writer in Residence at Edinburgh I thought, you can't teach poetry. This is ridiculous.
breathing conversation persons
It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone who isn't there. Because it has to be addressed to somebody - not a particular person, or very rarely.
books might
There are books up there I haven't read for many years but I wouldn't put them out. I never know when I might want to read them again.