Morgan, Edwin. (b. 1920).

W o r k

- an extremely versatile and prolific Scottish poet, lecturer, and translator

- uses a wide range of forms and styles: sonnet, concrete poetry, Beat poetry, science-fiction poems, sound poetry, etc.

- combines epic scope with lightness of touch, achieves a balance between matter and formal brilliance

- demonstrates the closeness of poetry and speech by incorporating prose comments of his fellow Glaswegians in his poetry (e.g. "The Demolishers")

> appointed the first Glasgow Poet Laureate (1999), named the first 'Scots Makar', i.e. National Poet for Scotland (2004)

From Glasgow to Saturn (1973):

> "Stobhill":

- a poem for several voices about the treatment of a foetus mistakenly thought to be dead

- consists of the characters' continuing efforts to explain or exculpate themselves

- a striking renovation of the Browningesque dramatic monologue

- an exemplary instance of the use of ordinary speech in poetry: the hospital porter, at the bottom of the chain of authority, feels like the scapegoat when being questioned by police

> "The Loch Ness Monster's Song":

- a playful sound poem

- manifests his childlike pleasure in the sheer material fact of language

"The Demolishers" (1978):

- a radio poem intercutting verse commentary with the comments of local residents and workmen on the demolition of Glasgow tenements

"For the Opening of the Scottish Parliament, October 9^th 2004" (2004):

- a poem he was invited to write for this occasion, recited at the Parliament's opening

- expresses his expectation that the governors will take instruction from the nation