Buckie author hopes to ‘keep flag flying’ for Doric culture with poetry anthology
Keeping the Doric flag flying - that is the driving force behind a new anthology of poems.
Behind the venture - entitled Aye Tyavin Awa - features a selection of poems penned by Buckie poet Caroline Fowler over the years. The book has been funded by the Doric Board.
She has been interested in writing since an early age, with later inspiration coming from dealing with loss.
However, it was since she joined the Buckie Blethers - a local group dedicated to promoting Doric literature, poetry, music and culture - back in 2010 that her writing really took off.
The idea and the funding for the anthology was to come through a couple of chance meetings, one with a competition rival and the other through Keith Community Radio (KCR) where, until recently, she presented her own show The Ramblins o’ a Buckie Quine.
She said: “During last years’ TMSA festival in Keith I took part in the senior poetry competition, reciting one of my own poems, the Buckie Blethers.
“A fellow competitor turned out to be Jim Brown, from Fettercairn, who encouraged me to apply funding from the Doric Board to have some of my poems published.
“Long story short, I applied for and received funding from the Doric Board which was then matched by the Buckie Blethers, enabling me to cover the printing costs of Aye Tyavin Awa.
“I’d also been greatly encouraged by Isla St Clair to have a wee book published. Having contacted Isla for permission to use one of her recordings as the indent for my programme The Ramblins o’ a Buckie Quine she said she was delighted for me to give me a traditional song, Fishermen’s Lassie, an airing. We’ve kept in touch ever since and she actually put me forward to attend a Royal garden party in July.
“I’m indebted to Buckie Blethers and the Doric Board for giving me this wonderful opportunity. I have previously printed out my own homemade efforts, always for local charities. However, should my new book sell it will enable me to have a second book published with another selection of my poems, which are as aye, a reflection of life - happy, sad and everything in between.”
In 2021, during the Covid lockdowns, Mrs Fowler also joined the Huntly Writers group and was delighted to have some of her work included in a book they produced entitled Speaking Back.
Mrs Fowler went on to speak about her passion in helping keep Doric alive as a language and culture.
She continued: “I do my best to help keep the Doric flag flying.
“The Blethers go to schools to speak to P7s about Doric. They’re so into things like YouTube and social media that everything’s becoming so Americanised it’s more important than ever that we keep and promote our north-east identity.”
The Buckie Blethers will end their summer break on Tuesday, September 10 at 2pm at Burnside Court in the town where, Mrs Fowler added, they will “share the love o’ keeping oor mither tongue alive and help keep the Doric flag fleein’”.
The book, priced £10, is available at Pozzi’s and Buckie Community Shop.
