As a child, I read a great many books in which animals and birds played significant roles, not only in the narrative itself, but also in creating the emotional and psychological atmosphere of that narrative - the imaginative furniture, as it were, in which any story unfolds. John Burnside animalatmospherebird share on social
One day I was talking about what I was going to do next, and just found myself announcing it: 'I'm going to write a book about my father.' John Burnside announcebookday Change image and share on social
My editor, Robin Robertson, is one of this country's finest poets, so I listen to him when he offers advice. John Burnside advicecountryeditor Change image and share on social
It may be a cliche, but cliche or not, I fear the day when the only marsh harriers or peregrines I can look at are in paintings by Joseph Wolf or Bruno Liljefors - and no matter how beautiful those works may be, life is the great thing: life, life, life. John Burnside beautifulbrunocliche share on social
With human beings it could be argued that all music-making is, in essence, grounded in improvisation. John Burnside arguebeingessence Change image and share on social
Sometimes, though only in my most unguarded moments, I can still think of Annette Winters as my first love. At fifteen, she was tall, slender, very dark: an intelligent, sly girl possessed of what I think of now, though I didn't think of then, as a kind of debatable beauty. John Burnside annettebeautydark share on social
In many traditions, hawks are sacred: Apollo's messengers for the Greeks, sun symbols for the ancient Egyptians and, in the case of the Lakota Sioux, embodiments of clear vision, speed and single-minded dedication. John Burnside ancientapollocase share on social
All my life, I have been a celebrant of Halloween. For me, it is the most important day of the year, the turning point in the old pagan calendar. John Burnside calendarcelebrantday Change image and share on social
Growing up, I learnt to think, 'Let's make it a big night tonight, as you never know what's going to happen next.' So now I have enough, I take too much; when I get the chance to have a fine dinner, I will. And it's had an effect on my health. John Burnside bigchancedinner share on social
My poems tend to be more celebratory and lyrical, and the novels so far pretty dark. Poetry doesn't seem to me to be an appropriate tool for exploring that. John Burnside celebratorydarkexplore Change image and share on social