spw029233 SCOTLAND (1929). Annan Academy, Station Road, Annan. An oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.

Here is the companion video for the post below http://annandale.tv/stories/4755-powfoot-writers-to-launch-new-book

- broadcast on Annan Cable TV - and another poem, in Scots this time



Annan – Nae Mair Ae Mercat Toun : Cathie Forbes



Awa doon the toun

Ye cam tae Butts Street

Whaur yince the Sheep Mart wis

It’s aw been cawd doon Nae mair dis the air echo

Wae the sangs o’ lammies mehs

Nae Auctioneer’s crie ‘Whit am I bid fur this pen?’

Mart days ir nae mair

It’ aw bin cad doo tae oblivion

Nae mair dae the countra cam tae toun

Nae mair ir heard dealers vices frae the north and south

Nae mair ir the streets clagged wae lorries

Nae mair dae fermers weemen –folk brickten the streets

Wae thir flowery frocks an straw bunnets

Fur a w up Murray Street the Cattle Mart is nae mair

Nae langer dae oor lugs drill tae the rattle o the metal gates

Or the roaring and braying o the beasts

Nae mair dis the mingin shite sting o’wer nebs

Ower lugs ir deefened wae the soond

O the hirds tackettie buits on the causey stanes

Sadly the cushie doos coos ir heard nae mair

Thir is na whaur tae mak thir nests

Fuir the rafters abin the pens hae aw gan awa

Mart days ir nae mair

It’s aw bin cad doon tae oblivion

Our community project 'Annan from Above' launched its book of creative responses to this and several other BFA images on Tuesday 9th September with an exhibition, readings, a new aerial tour of Annan in a most convivial gathering. Writers started from the photographs and explored their memories and thoughts in a variety of ways so our book contains poetry, prose, memoir and philosophical reflections. Memories of school were a very strong thread :



heat exchange



in navy dress and knee high socks

your legs close fit in between



radiator contours, heat transfers

pinks your skin as you lean across



your skirt rides up above your knees

their backs revealed. Robert sees you



watch William flag dreams

up on the window, palm on glass



as his own dreams cool within him

he tries to capture the heat of you



the residue of the air you moved

breathed in and out, changed



discarded, barely noticed





Gillian Mellor

Our community project 'Annan from Above' launched its book of creative responses to this and several other BFA images on Tuesday 9th September with an exhibition, readings, a new aerial tour of Annan in a most convivial gathering. Writers started from the photographs and explored their memories and thoughts in a variety of ways so our book contains poetry, prose, memoir and philosophical reflections. Memories of school were a very strong thread :



heat exchange



in navy dress and knee high socks

your legs close fit in between



radiator contours, heat transfers

pinks your skin as you lean across



your skirt rides up above your knees

their backs revealed. Robert sees you



watch William flag dreams

up on the window, palm on glass



as his own dreams cool within him

he tries to capture the heat of you



the residue of the air you moved

breathed in and out, changed



discarded, barely noticed





Gillian Mellor

Annan Academy, recording by John A Thompson talking about the academy and other schools in the town (21/7/2014).



The first part of the recording talks about image SPW040216.