Garry MacKenzie

Biography

Garry MacKenzie is 24 and grew up in Glasgow. He graduated from the University of St Andrews in English Literature and International Relations in 2007. He then completed an MLitt in Creative Writing, specialising in poetry, under the tuition of Douglas Dunn and Don Paterson.

He has taught creative writing in schools as part of the StAnza Poetry Festival, and last year edited "O8\08 Poets", an anthology of work by students on his Masters course. His poem "Humphrey Spender: Photograph of Newcastle United Football Club Changing Rooms, 1938" won the 2009 McLellan Poetry Competition at the Arran Arts Festival.

Garry lives and works in St Andrews, and is spending this year developing his writing, with poetic syntax becoming an increasingly strong obsession. He spent last year working in a bookshop, coveting its contemporary poetry section and trying to sell books by W.S. Graham to as many people as possible.

Lemon

after Neruda

Halving a lemon

uncovers

a cathedral

of pale alcoves

starry with juice,

altars

steeped in light

and incense.

It wells in the hand

a ripe, potent

house of rind,

half a globe

of clotting acids

brimming

at this division

or creation.

Comment

"It's a real privilege and encouragement to receive this award. It has not only enabled me to have more time to work on my writing, but has also given me the confidence to keep writing and improving."