“Look to the living, love them, and hold on” will be projected onto the north face of Castle Rock from dusk on St Valentine’s Day to celebrate the importance of love in all its forms.  The line is from ‘Disenchantments’, a poem by the award-winning Scottish poet, Douglas Dunn.

The projection took place until 11.00pm on Sunday 14th February.

Poetry Projections in Edinburgh

Ali Bowden, Director of the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, said “We are delighted that Historic Scotland is supporting the Carry A Poem campaign, and joining us in bringing poetry to Edinburgh Castle, the iconic cultural image of Scotland’s Capital City.  This one-off projection joins 5 other poems shining throughout the city – 2 onto the City Chambers, the new extension of the Usher Hall, the National Library of Scotland and at the Foot of Leith Walk – all of which can be enjoyed until March.”

Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture and External Affairs, said “Edinburgh Castle is a fitting choice to be one of the key focal points of this innovative campaign, which celebrates Edinburgh’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature. As a city and as a country we are extremely proud of this and by celebrating it in this way I hope that it provides local people and visitors alike with a powerful and memorable symbol of our diverse and renowned literary heritage.”

The Poet

Robyn Marsack, Director of the Scottish Poetry Library, said “Douglas Dunn’s lines are so appropriate: they say that love endures, like the Castle rock which they’ll illuminate for a night.”

Douglas Dunn commented “I’m really chuffed – it’s like having my name in lights above a theatre – and what a theatre!  I’m so pleased to be involved.”

Douglas Dunn was born in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, in 1942. In 1991 he was appointed Profess

or in the School of English at the University of St Andrews. He has won a Somerset Maugham Award, the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize, and has twice been awarded prizes by the Scottish Arts Council. In 1981 he was awarded the Hawthornden Prize for St Kilda’s Parliament. In January 1986 he was overall winner of the 1985 Whitbread Book of the Year Award for his collection ‘Elegies.’

Carry a Poem Campaign

Jenny Dawe, Leader of City of Edinburgh Council said “There can be few cities in the world as romantic or inspiring as Edinburgh, and what better focal point for this St Valentine’s Day poetry projection than our iconic Castle? Carry a Poem is proving to be a hugely thought-provoking campaign in this City of Literature, demonstrating the power of words to move, amuse and console us.”