Poetry anthology inspired by childhood landscapes

The landscapes, history and folklore of the Isle of Man have helped to inspire a new anthology of poetry.

From the Nab has been created by Manx poet David Callin by pulling together 70 of his works written over the past 18 years.

A mix of poems about the island generally alongside autobiographical tales, Callin said the tile was a reference to the hill farm he and his sister grew up on in the 1960s.

The collection was supported by Culture Vannin, which provided funding of £1,500 for the project, which includes illustrations by artist Vicky Webb.

Callin said he created the book as he had "accumulated" many poems over the years, and "thought it would be good to bring the best Isle of Man ones together in one collection".

The collection explored the island's "landscapes, its people, its history, its folklore and their effect on me", he said.

"I like the idea of the Nab being a vantage point, a place with a good view," he added.

The anthology was officially launched at an event at the Peel Centenary Centre, which saw Callin joined by former Manx Bards Annie Kissack, John Callister, Stacey Astill and Michael Manning to shared readings from the book.

Director of Culture Vannin said he was a "fantastic poet" and the pieces were all linked to a "real sense of place on the Isle of Man".

She said the grant was to bring work that took "decades" to create to a "wider audience".

The grants awarded by the organisation were "amplified" by an individual's "skill, knowledge and understanding of this place and it really gives so much back to the island", she added.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]