Norman MacCaig

Norman MacCaig
Norman Alexander MacCaig OBEwas a Scottish poet and teacher. His poetry, in modern English, is known for its humour, simplicity of language and great popularity...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth14 November 1910
nature love-is hills
I'm very gregarious, but I love being in the hills on my own.
came century novels people television three time
The nineteenth century novels came from a time when there was no television and people had time to read novels in three volumes.
books might
There are books up there I haven't read for many years but I wouldn't put them out. I never know when I might want to read them again.
I find it's impossible for me to read Proust.
poetry produce
And if they haven't got poetry in them, there's nothing you can do that will produce it.
rivers borders fish-tanks
I used to fish the Border rivers, but nowadays you have to queue up for a shot and I can't stand that.
book
I only keep books that I like very much. Otherwise I'd throw them out.
writing mean thinking
I never think about poetry except when I'm writing it. I mean my poetry.
thinking
I don't think of myself all the time.
jobs persons particular
But you'd have a job to find many of my poems which would seem to be very influenced by a particular person.
eye thinking names
And some poets are far better read off the page because they're very bad speakers. I'm thinking of one in particular whom I won't name, a good poet, and he reads in such a dry, boring way, your eyes start drooping.
true-love nice book
But I hang on to books. I love them. I even think they're very nice decor in a room - far better than paintings... That's not quite true!
sex character play
If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk like me regardless of age or sex.
mimicry invention said
I said I have no powers of invention. Well, I also have no powers of mimicry.