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.
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Gillian Clarke: 'I thought she was giving her her breath.'
Duration: 01:01
Music Played
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The Treorchy Male Choir & The Jonathan Price String Ensemble
Myfanwy
- Diamond Collection/The Treorchy Male Choir.
- EMI.
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Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita
Ceffylau
- Clychau Dibon.
- Astar Artes.
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Carols from Kings College, Cambridge & Stephen Cleobury
In the Bleak Midwinter
- Carols from Kings.
- Collins Classics.
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Claudio Monteverdi
Gloria Patri et Filio
Performer: Monteverdi Choir. Performer: English Baroque Soloists. Performer: Sir John Eliot Gardiner.- Vespers.
- Archiv.
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Castaway's Favourite
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Blackbird
A blackbird's song
- Sound Effects..
- 91热爆.
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Leonard Cohen
Suzanne
- Essential Leonard Cohen.
- Columbia.
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Seamus Heaney
The Blackbird of Glanmore
- Seamus Heaney reading from his poems..
- The Poetry Archive.
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Bryn Terfel
Suo - Gan
- We聮ll Keep a Welcome.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
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Book Choice
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Anthology of poetry
Luxury Choice
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Brynmawr writing desk
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Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Kirsty Young |
Interviewed Guest | Gillian Clarke |
Producer | Paula McGinley |
Broadcasts
- Sun 15 Dec 2013 11:1591热爆 Radio 4
- Fri 20 Dec 2013 09:0091热爆 Radio 4
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