A Scottish poet who writes about sex, drink and trains has won one of the most prestigious awards in the literary calendar.

Don Paterson, 35, was named the winner of the 1997 T S Eliot Prize at a glittering party for more than 200 poets and writers in London on Monday night.

'Poem' by Don Paterson Dur 0' 10"

Mr Paterson, who comes from Dundee and is also a guitarist, was presented with a cheque for £5,000 at the new British Library.

After he received the award he said about the process of writing poetry: "I think if you can do something you do it. If you can do it you should do it. Then you make up spurious justifications afterwards for doing it."

He added: "As a poet your job is to finish the poems. After that the poems have to make their own way in the world".

New lad

Sean O'Brien on relevance of poetry Dur 0' 31"

The Poetry Book Society, which organises the awards, has dubbed Paterson "a new lad" for his winning collection entitled God's Gift to Women.

Society director Clare Brown explained: "He is a man and he is interested in trains and girls' legs, but he knows that is not politically correct and he is grappling with the issue."

"There is a great deal of tenderness and sensitivity, and also a lot of irony in his work. Like every man he wishes he was God's gift to women, but he knows he isn't."

Sean O'Brien: friends buy "bucket loads of poetry"

Award-winning poets Gillian Clarke, Sean O'Brien and Hugo Williams judged the competition, which was founded by T S Eliot in the 1950s.

Mr O'Brien said it was tricky picking a winner from the final shortlist of ten poets. "It's like saying you prefer purple to green. In the end it comes down to a subjective response but nevertheless a powerful one. I think Don's book is deserving of the prize."
 

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