Festival 2021 »

Gordon Meade

Gordon Meade is a Scottish poet based in the East Neuk of Fife. In the past, Gordon has been a writer in residence for Dundee District Libraries, and the Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow for the University of Dundee. He has read from his work throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg, most recently at the Multispecies Heritage Conference hosted by the Centre for Human and Animal Studies. His tenth collection of poems, a collaboration between himself and the Canadian photographer and animal activist, Jo-Anne McArthur, was published in 2020 by Enthusiastic Press in London.

Gordon Meade

Events

Poetry in the Garden »

Poetry al fresco with Gordon Meade

Sun 14 March | 11:30 - 12:00 | Free/Ticketed | Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, Foyers and Garden

Poem

Pileated Gibbon, France, 2016

As you come upon me, I am 
seated, almost cross-legged, 
with my arms folded; not quite.

As you come upon me, I am
seated, almost cross-legged
with my arms folded. Not quite
the Full Lotus, but very nearly.

As you come upon me, I am
seated, almost cross-legged,
with my arms folded. Not quite
the Full Lotus, but very nearly
in the shape and form of one.

As you come upon me, I am
seated, almost cross-legged,
with my arms folded. Not quite
the Full Lotus, but very nearly
in the shape and form of one
of you spiritual icons: a Buddha.




As you come upon me, I am
seated, almost cross-legged,
with my arms folded. Not quite
the Full Lotus, but very nearly
in the shape and form of one
of your spiritual icons; a Buddha
in fur, with my eyes both open.

As you come upon me, I am
seated, almost cross-legged,
with my arms folded. Not quite
the Full Lotus, but very nearly
in the shape and form of one
of your spiritual icons; a Buddha
in fur, with my eyes both open
and closed, focussed and relaxed.

As you come upon me, I am
seated, almost cross-legged,
with my arms folded. Not quite
the Full Lotus, but very nearly
in the shape and form of one
of your spiritual icons; a Buddha
in fur, with my eyes both open
and closed, focussed and relaxed.
Here I am and, here, I am not.

 

Gordon Meade

 

From Zoospeak (Enthusiastic Press, 2020)