Jo Gilbert is an Aberdeen based spoken word artist and writer. Her native tongue of Doric is used throughout her work. A winner of multiple poetry slams, Jo has had work published in several anthologies and magazines. Recent commissions include StAnza 2021, 3 poems for Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums permanent collection, and creating new work for True North Festival.

Tarlair

Glaekit excitement spills fae brecht buckets,
plastic spades dangle riddy
taes dig in.
Lungs suck in slurps o saliferous air 
as cauld sea-swell fills in sweemers,
we dingy man-made boundaries,
aa in the name o adventure.

Afore oor een - hunners o black holes -
ooter rings o possibility,
cheap goggles strapped tae sunburnt chikks
we giggle at creatures nivver seen in toons 
watch them dunce tae ripples fae lobbed steens,
trappit in pools, only free tae roam 
eence the tide coories in, droonin oor dreams.