A Scots poet is in the running to take top title in the World Slam Poetry Finals in Paris.
Highlands-based Hamish Macdonald has won through to the semi-finals and hopes to bring the prestigious honour back to Scotland with him.
The Grand Poetry Slam 2022 is the the lyrical equivalent of the world cup.
Performers from 16 countries across the globe including Brazil, Poland, Morocco and Haiti are taking part.
They each have three minutes to recite a piece to a live audience, five of whom then decided a score.
It’s the first time Hamish, who was the first Scots Scriever, has won through to the World semi-finals after taking the Scottish title in March.
He said “If you go back, poets have probably been writing about the same universal concerns since time immemorial so all we are doing is expressing the same thoughts and preoccupations in a present-day context.”
Hamish has to perform six poems as part of the global competition.
He said “I have been to a few Scottish finals but never actually qualified to come here so it’s brilliant to get here and enjoy the experience.”
“I mean, Scotland in the semi-finals of a World Cup, what’s the chances of that! Although Scotland have won it before, with the poet Sam Small.”
Hamish will take to the stage on Friday in the next round, with the finals on Saturday.
He hopes the power of his words will help him take the prestigious trophy home to Scotland.
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