Video: Liz Lochhead poem is a treat for shoppers

NATIONAL Makar Liz Lochhead gave shoppers at Glasgow’s John Lewis store an unexpected Easter treat when she recited from her 1972 poetry collection Memo for Spring.

The 40-year-old collection, for which she was awarded a Scottish Arts Council Book Award, received a warm reception from customers yesterday.

The poem Memo To Myself For Spring will be displayed in the window of John Lewis until Tuesday next week. and a spokeswoman for John Lewis said: “I do believe she shops a lot in John Lewis, and we thought it was a great opportunity to have Liz in the branch.

“She was overwhelmed, she thought it was fantastic.”

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Ms Lochead is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s most eminent poets and playwrights, and was serving as Glasgow’s Makar before she accepted the national position following the death of Edwin Morgan in August 2010.

It’s not the first time the department store has been honoured with a spot of poetry.

Last year, the national poet of Wales, Gillian Clarke, wrote a poem entitled Home in homage to the third anniversary of the Cardiff store.