Bog bards flushed with success over new toilet book

A Shetland Isle project which aims to put new writing in public toilets attracted poets from all over the world. Now a book of the best 24 Bards in the Bog poems is to be launched on World Toilet Day.

The final selection of work was made by 2009 TS Eliot prize winner Jen Hadfield. All profits from the book will be donated to the World Toilet Organisation which is committed to improving global sanitation.

The competition was launched in February by the Shetland Islands Council Library Service.



Entries were received from countries such as Poland, France, Canada and the US, as well as many from throughout the UK. The library service wanted to give budding writers the chance to get their work read and also bring poetry to a wider audience.

They had almost a captive audience, as the poems were displayed on the inside of toilet cubicles in public buildings all across the isles.

Local councillor Gussie Angus said: "This low-cost project has had far-reaching effects, with many people reading poetry for the first time in many years." The new publication will be launched at the Shetland Library on Thursday 19 November to coincide with World Toilet Day.