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Gillian Clarke

Kirsty Young talks to poet Gillian Clarke.

Kirsty Young's castaway is Gillian Clarke.

Wales's National Poet, she has received the Queen's Gold Medal for her work. She writes about everything from dinosaurs to suicide, but the potency and power of nature is a recurring motif.

Although she's recognised for her significant and distinguished contribution to her homeland's literature and culture, her verse has been translated into ten languages and she regularly receives fan mail from South America, Pakistan and most countries in between.

Aside from writing, her main project in life is the conservation of her own small patch of West Wales - restoring hedges, conserving bluebells and tending sheep take up her spare time.

She says, "A poem is the only work of art you can have for nothing. Read it, memorise it, copy it into your notebook and it's yours."

Producer: Paula McGinley.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 Dec 2013 09:00

Music Played

  • The Treorchy Male Choir & The Jonathan Price String Ensemble

    Myfanwy

    • Diamond Collection/The Treorchy Male Choir.
    • EMI.
  • Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita

    Ceffylau

    • Clychau Dibon.
    • Astar Artes.
  • Carols from Kings College, Cambridge & Stephen Cleobury

    In the Bleak Midwinter

    • Carols from Kings.
    • Collins Classics.
  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Gloria Patri et Filio

    Performer: Monteverdi Choir. Performer: English Baroque Soloists. Performer: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
    • Vespers.
    • Archiv.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Blackbird

      A blackbird's song

      • Sound Effects..
      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
  • Leonard Cohen

    Suzanne

    • Essential Leonard Cohen.
    • Columbia.
  • Seamus Heaney

    The Blackbird of Glanmore

    • Seamus Heaney reading from his poems..
    • The Poetry Archive.
  • Bryn Terfel

    Suo - Gan

    • WeΒ’ll Keep a Welcome.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Book Choice

    • Anthology of poetry

  • Luxury Choice

    • Brynmawr writing desk

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Gillian Clarke
Producer Paula McGinley

Broadcasts

  • Sun 15 Dec 2013 11:15
  • Fri 20 Dec 2013 09:00

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