Gael Turnbull (1928-2004) was born in Edinburgh, where he returned to live after spending most of his working life as a doctor in England, Canada and the United States.

His poetry is characterized by an unusually wide range of technical resource and invention, extending to his late kinetic poems (seen on the streets of Edinburgh during the International Festival).

He published numerous books and pamphlets, among them Transmutations (Shoestring Press, 1997), A Rattle of Scree (Akros, 1997) and Might a shape of words (Mariscat, 2000).

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Featured poem

A single quaver
of loosening ice
extends across the silence,
revives the air
with the almost forgotten song
of snow melting to water
and of water flowing
to reaffirm
as winter’s claw
holds a little longer,
although what was
is strong,
what will be’s
stronger.

© Gael Turnbull

From A Winter Journey