Poetry

Alan has self-published two collections of poetry:

Ross Bay and Other Poems (2011).  Available here through Blurb.

Alternative Endings and Other Poems (2013).  Available here through Amazon.

Both collections feature cover paintings by Alan’s brother Ewan, more of whose work can be found here.

Alan has also had poetry published in Poetry Scotland, the Green Review and Corporate Watch’s 10th anniversary volume.

Reviews

“Alan McClure writes from the heart.   Passionate, lovely poems. He also writes from the head. Political, intelligent observations. Whatever content he chooses, there is always careful technical shaping and crafting. This is an exciting young writer, well worth listening to.”  Liz Niven 

“Alan McClure's songs and poems are always finely crafted and deeply felt. He's an artist who cares, with much to say about the intimate detail of things, but also wider issues of social and political concern - always approaching his subject matter with an original eye. His performance style is relaxed and engaging. Most certainly a talent to watch.”  Chrys Salt, MBE

‘Alan McClure is a multi-talentit force o natuir! Ah’ve lang bin impressed bi the stellar word-play in his poems an sangs. He hus that rare ability tae be able tae compose serious lyric poetry – but alsae mix this wi satire/humour an licht-hairtit verse - that touches the hairt, an the heid. His song-writing skills bear comparison wi ony o the ‘big name’ songwriters warkin in Scotland today; his songs, meticulously crafted, combine stunningly clever an witty lyrical construction wi strong melodies that deal wi aa the universal themes that affect the human condition. Alan McClure hus a loat tae say – an he’s sayin it! Mair pouer tae him!’  Rab Wilson

 

 

Charlie the Hare

Sloshing round the bay road
through the foot-deep potholes,
glorying in the rain-lashed dark
as the wind made the phone-lines sing

I saw him.  Brown, dishevelled, shivering -
a leveret, bamboozled by torchlight
diminished in his dripping fur,
wild eyes wide and startled.

Trying to leap aside, he caught the fence,
rebounded, tried again,
landing this time in a muddy sheuch,
a wired brown ball of panic.

"You'll not last long in this, wee man,"
I muttered, scooping him up,
dropping him into the deep dark pocket
of my raincoat.

Home we went, where two boys waited.
I quickened my pace, eager
to be the father bearing surprises,
to widen the cast-list of this adventure.

We dried him off, the boys enchanted.
He unfolded.  He raised his head.
He bounded round the kitchen
on impossible elastic legs.

"Let's call him Charlie!" cried Robin,
and we did.  
Charlie the Hare.
Alien, crazy, impatient.

When the rain eased
and Charlie was dry,
I put him back in my pocket
for the journey round the bay.

The last I saw of him
he was bounding out of sight
indifferent to the interlude
engaged in other things.

Those wild eyes that looked beyond
had no place in a cosy kitchen
this was no pet, no human companion
there was no understanding

But every time we see a hare,
the boys say, "I wonder if that's Charlie!"
and it glows against the backdrop
of nature's unfathomable canvas.

Contact:  Alan can be contacted for bookings or commissions, at:  48 Catherine Street, Gatehouse of Fleet DG7 2JB   alanmcclure70@hotmail.com   Tel: 07496181254

 

Copyright © Alan McClure 2015. All Rights Reserved.