John Mackie - lyrics from a life in the flux Home page of the Banff poet and lyricist John Mackie

river findhorn "No man steps into the same river twice. Each time it is a different river, a different man." - Heraclitus. John beside The Findhorn, 2009.

Wordfringe performance
Performing at the Wordfringe/S.O.U.N.D Festival 2009
"Creative, transformative memory is equally central to the poetry of John Mackie, who performed his gorgeously hypnotic, meditative verse — at once intellectual and intimate — as Infinite Equation #2, alongside reader Anna Tessier-Lavigne and classical guitarist Michael Moar. Their work brought a patchwork-colourful programme to a tender close." Lisa Fraser
Special thanks to Anna Tessier-Lavigne and Michael Moar,
For a preview of work in progress on current collaborations with Anna, please click here

Banff Bay Dawn
Dawn at Banff Bay 4.17 a.m 23rd July 2008. Photo by John

Between the star glazed opacity of night
And the dazzling drift of a deep blue day
The sea and sun embrace
In lovers' fluent languor
In not long now
This seed will burst
On tendrils of gold
To flower today

© John Mackie

Spirited Places — Poems in celebration of special places and their people.
A_Pilgrimage — For Tilda Swinton and Mark Cousins. As presented by Tilda on 9th August 2009
The Son Of Life
— An alternative MACBETH, commissioned by the National Theatre of Scotland
MySpace Page — Including an Infinite Equation track and videos of poems
New Albums — Including a fund-raiser for the Whale And Dolphin Conservation Society
Musings — Love Poems for Nina Gavalén, who continues to "re-enchant the world".
Poise After Rain — A moment at The Lossie Folk Festival 2009
What The Papers Say About John — Selected media coverage

John in 1969
John in 1969

The right of John Mackie to be identified as the author of the works mentioned and quoted from herein has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988. His moral right has also been asserted .


In Memoriam Jacqui Allen
A selection of poems written in the wake of the death of John's partner of 15 years, Jacqui Allen, from cancer, on June 3rd 2006. Now includes 2 memorial poems written in 2008 and 2009:
The Peach Tree
The Harbour Garden

The Poisonous Jay. Poems for a "soor plum".
The History of Ice
Jay's Bench