Poyums Annaw

by Len Pennie

There isn't a timescale for how you should heal
Your bad days are valid, your heartache is real
But so is the day that your smile will return
That fire within you continues to burn
You will overcome this and continue to thrive
You are here, you are loved, you are whole, you're alive.

A formidable follow up to her award-winning debut poetry collection, Len Pennie’s poyums annaw is just like defiant, angry and trailblazing. These poems are a call to arms, confronting ideas of patriarchy, gender-based violence and societal injustice with equal parts tenderness, quick-wit and righteous fury. poyums annaw firmly cements Len as a defining voice in contemporary Scots poetry.

Genres: Poetry, Audiobook, Nonfiction

127 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Len Pennie is a Scottish poet and Scots language and mental health advocate. She became known on social media in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland for her "Scots word of the day" and poem (Scots: poyum) videos. As of January 2024, her Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok accounts collectively number over 1.2 million followers worldwide.

Reviews

[Reuben Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take everything I said about Pennie’s first poyums collection and times it by 2. Simply delicious. Her performance is so passionate and visceral, she never fails to give me chills, make me smirk and snort, or prick my eyes with tears in the right places. She is an immensely talented woman and every man who scoffs at her and tries to tear her down proves just how right and necessary her work is. I can’t wait for the day their kids are studying her in school.

[alailiander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gut-wrenching collection and I'd be hard pressed to select a favorite from its pages. There are so many brutal and beautiful pieces in it. The sheer number of lines and stanzas that made me stop and read them again were not few or far between!

(I obviously struggled to read the poems in Scots, but I did love trying to!)

[Ella (The Story Collector) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of defiant, angry and witty poems tackling ideas of societal injustice, patriarchy and gender-based violence written in a combination of English and Scots.

I’m not usually into poetry, but some of these poems really resounded with me and I was very surprised. My particular favourites were Dad, The Good Guys, and The Vow.

I did struggle to read some of the more Scots-heavy poems, but I was really intrigued and impressed by the multi-lingual writing.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Cassie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

As would make sense, poyums annaw follows in much the same way as its predecessor. Pennie’s poems are powerful, moving and demonstrate deep feeling, both on deeply personal topics, and on those broader societal issues. I will say that they do start to blend together a bit because some are very similar in subject and in meter, but I still greatly appreciate Pennie’s work, especially with her incorporating Scots into her pieces.

[Oana]

Can I say AGAIN I don't like poetry but I do like Len Pennie?
(The last poem was a bit heartbreaking, FYI.)

[Katie ratherbereadinggg · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

[Hannah Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are strong, fearless and ferocious poems about being a woman, surviving and standing up to abusers.

Written in a mixture English and Scots, full of humour, puns and wordplay, this is also a collection that celebrates the power of language and identity.

It’s very raw and personal, but at the same time advocating for all women and all victims of the abuse of power.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A follow up to her first collection of poetry Poyums (2024), Poyums Annaw delivers as much of a powerful punch, if not more. The poems are filled with humor and rage, a mix of English and Scots (the latter admittedly a challenge for me to read, but a load of fun trying). Len Pennie's poetry deals with the personal (domestic violence, experiences with misogyny, mental health) and also the social and political (wealth inequality, domestic violence, gender discrimination, the genocide in Gaza).

It was the poem "Sunbird" about the genocide in Gaza and specifically the brutal murder of five-year-old Hind Rajab that first put her on my radar as a poet. The poem made me weep when I first heard it and it still makes me cry today. Other marvels in this collection include another Gaza-inspired piece, "We're Still Here" and "Let Them Eat Cake," a fierce attack on the billionaire class.

The poems are best read aloud, for it is in reading them aloud (and with a Scottish accent if one can muster it - even poorly) that they pack the biggest emotional punch.

[Steven Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another delightful and dark, poignant and beautiful collection of poems from Len Pennie - Scottish word of the day on insta and elsewhere. Never afraid to tackle personal/hard topics, but the delight for me is those written in Scottish - being forced to slow down my reading to appreciate them, to almost hear them in her voice and to figure out (or not) all their twists and turns. 'The worm' is just beautiful and thoughtful. The deepness and joy of 'Aince upon a bus ride' - isn't life just that! 'Bad for Business' is just so beautiful and hopeful and 'Sand' is just so powerful.
A collection to be savoured again and again.

[Adam Carman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Len Pennie's volume of poetry back at the beginning of the year and was thrilled to grab her sequel volume. Her passionate use of Scots and her embrace of anger and outspokenness set her poetry apart. I will admit, as a man, I cannot claim to understand everything she has been through as a woman and a survivor of domestic abuse and all the crap a woman in the public sphere must put up with on the daily, but her poetry also speaks to me, dealing with my own lack of love and experience of different kinds of abuse. Her raw emotion and willingness to speak out really shines through and her poetry is a gift to a new generation.

[Dr. Lehman L Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This struck me primarily as a lament. Having learned a bit about Ms Pennie. She has earned the right to expose the issues she faced and the scars she still bears. While the somber and dark
Mood of this book of poems pervades the offerings and occasional ray of hope and recovery does make an appearance. The acknowledgements are worth reading. There were a couple of poems that even seem to reflect my opinions on current events. The poems in the Scottish Gael were a little challenging there is considerable heart and sole to be found there. I am fairly certain I will reread this sometime.

[Kevin Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Poyums

Caledonia is the Latin name for Scotland, used by the Romans. It originally described the area north of their province of Britannia—land largely unconquered by Rome and inhabited by the Caledonii, a Celtic tribe.
• Today, “Caledonia” is often used poetically or nostalgically to refer to Scotland as a whole. You’ll see it in place names (like New Caledonia in the South Pacific) and in Scottish songs, ships, and institutions.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oof, brave choice to fill a slim volume with so many poems focused on her abuser and it was a hard read. But, like Sharon Old's book of poems about the end of her marriage, it works. There's a grim satisfaction in witnessing the empowerment, the poetic putting in of the boot into someone who is deservedly down ('Peekaboo', my goodness) but that wouldn't be enough, the poems have to be good and they are, Scots and English.

[Anthony Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant collection of engaging, honest and occasionally brutal poetry. Got this at an event at the local The Wee Bookshop in Dollar where interestingly it was referred to as being more ‘fun’ than the first collection (which was understandably raw, with much of it being written while going through a court case involving her abusive former partner). I felt there was still pain here, but a definite feel of it being retrospective, or from a place of new optimism.

[Nick van Klaveren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible poetry bundle from Len Pennie with more poyums about abuse, surviving, politics, female rage and spite, but also of love, humour and wonder. Ranging from emotional, to enraged, to laugh out loud funny. All in satisfying metrics and alliterations, in either Scots or English.
If you tend to say you don't like a lot of poetry (like me), I sincerely recommend you give Len Pennie a try.

[Bo Forsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has a wonderful and enchanting way with words

A lovely collection of poems in both English and the Scots language. Interesting subjects, as well as sometimes mesmerising combinations of words. I find myself reading the poems silently to myself so that I can taste the words. Highly recommended if you like poetry.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Len Pennie hit an early peak with her first poetry volume and this timely sequel continues that peak. She wrote many of these verses while going through some personal turmoil and it was clearly therapeutic for her - the catharsis and passion ooze from the pages. There's also more Scots in this one which for me is a massive bonus.

[Shannon A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pennie’s poetry is deeply personal, rooted in experience and emotion, it will rip your heart out with fury as it mends and heals you. It will remind you what it is to be human. A gem of a collection you will never forget.

[Gemma Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these poems. Many were very powerful and relatable. How sad that so many of our experiences as women in the world are universal. I also enjoyed the mix of English and Scots language.

[Barry Hammock · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent poetry collection. Full of raw energy and angst like Alanis Morissette after she stopped being a Canadian pop princess, or Gwen Stefani after her brother left the group and she broke up with her boyfriend.

[Kimberly Brewington · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 I don't really enjoy poetry, but I love this. This one is just as good as the first one.

[Jeff Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm no expert. I don't even particularly like poetry. The first book (poyums) was amazing.
This one didn't hit quite as well for me.

[Allison Hemingway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devoured these poems. The English and the Scots is such a fun dynamic for such powerful poetry. Consider me a Len Pennie fan

[John Scadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best poet of the modern era! Just wonderful.