Carol Ann Duffy at Edinburgh International Book Festival

The Open University in Scotland is pleased to support the Carol Ann Duffy: ‘You Danced On the Road, Blowing Kisses’ event as part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2021. 

‘Your vacant room / is a still-life framed by the unclosed door; / read by sunlight, an open book on the floor.’ This plaintive cry will be familiar to many empty nesters who have seen a child grow up and leave home.

Written by Carol Ann Duffy, it opens a wonderful new anthology edited by the OU honorary graduate and former Poet Laureate, featuring 99 poems on the subject of families and the inevitable moment when children grow up and leave.

Overflowing with affection, Empty Nest is a collection that feels especially apt when the pandemic has either forced families to stay together, or unfairly kept them apart.

Alongside Duffy’s there are poems by a stellar cast including Sharon Olds, Tony Harrison, Eavan Boland, as well as fellow OU honorary graduate and former Scots Makar, Jackie Kay. Expect a richly emotional hour of love and familial longing with one of our finest and best-loved poets, with musical accompaniment by John Sampson.

Book via the Edinburgh Book Festival website. This is a live event, with an author Q&A. If buying a ticket to watch the event in-person, the author and participants will be on stage in the venue. Or choose to pay what you can and book your spot to watch the event online. 

There's a wide range of free online learning to explore on the OU’s site OpenLearn, including the short course What is poetry? and a Poetry Prescription to find the perfect poem to reflect your mood. 

The OU also offers creative writing courses and qualifications, such as the modules Creative Writing and Advanced Creative Writing, a BA (Honours) English Literature and Creative Writing, and an MA in Creative Writing.