Frieda Hughes: The Edinburgh Reading

In her fourth exclusive poem, Frieda Hughes presents an exploration of her recent book ‘George: A Magpie Memoir’ – a literary account of her experience nursing a sick magpie named George back to health

Magpie bird sitting on a hedge in Sydney

(AFP via Getty Images)

Leaving the Welsh Hills for the lakes of middle England, I drive North;

Swathes of pink and yellow blooms festoon the central reservation,

Mostly ignored. Past sheep and cattle I head for Edinburgh. In the auditorium