The point about technique brought forward by
Martin Nelson encourages me to say that the most interesting technique is of little use unless the subject matter is of interest to the
viewer, reader or listener.
The subject matter must connect to the sensibilities. Certainly, technique can enhance its subject and the audience view
accordingly but it cannot retain the interest
on its own. I am a great film fan, going back
fifty years, with recollections of watching
film technique that I was unaware of at the
time, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway if
the subject hadn't been of interest.
With poetry - what is written is vital. How it
is written can enhance or detract, according
to the skill or otherwise, of the writer.
Technique is a tool of the trade, there to
embellish and assist an intended message.
But if what you have to say is of little interest or consequence, then what does it
achieve? Enhanced boredom?
Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Fiona Sampson (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks for your comments on The Winter Gardens, Isobel. It's easy to poke fun at the blokes in cloth caps, but I think we've lost something along the way, too.
Comment is about Isobel (poet profile)
Original item by Isobel
Ray, I think this is fairly sublime, although I'm a bit dim, and had to check out the goldfish reference. As it happens, I've written a poem about watching an England match in a pub with Carol Ann Duffy. I'm still waiting for hers about the same event.
Comment is about Fame (blog)
Any goal will do, no Mata who scores 'em! Nice of you, as an Evertonian, to think of us, Chris.
Comment is about Chelsea Zen Buddhist Haiku (blog)
Original item by Chris Co
I really enjoyed listening to this the other night.There are some cracking lines - beautiful, raw and like thrown daggers - "You either be happy or be mentally well
so I suggest you should lose your mind."
Yes, I like.
Comment is about In consequence of past oblivion (blog)
Original item by Dermot Glennon
M.C.
I'm just trying to understand your position a little better.
If its that everyone can write poetry but not everyone becomes an artist I'd agree.
The question you ask about Betjeman...I think could be applied to almost all creative fields today. Personally, I dislike fast cutting in film-based media, and have heard rumours that tracking shots are not done in film. Despite this I still think that Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet and Henry V benefit hugely from their tracking shots and the artistic way in which it was shot.
That said if you look at The Artist, I wouldn't go all the way and say it was art, but it gets close...perhaps we just have to hope that the odd master of a given artform manages to slip though the nets?
Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Fiona Sampson (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thank you Greg- it took a while but here I am at last. Looking forward to getting to know the site and the other members.
Comment is about Sally J Blackmore (poet profile)
Original item by Sally J Blackmore
indeed, temptation is a cool thing lol. this is the positive on my town. read my crap town entry for the flipside negative view on my town. no mercy there. look me up if youre tempted, i know all the haunts lol.
Comment is about MY TOWN (blog)
Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER
Well, now after reading this, I might just be tempted...
Comment is about MY TOWN (blog)
Original item by NICK ARMBRISTER
Just what exactly does this all mean?!
Comment is about In consequence of past oblivion (blog)
Original item by Dermot Glennon
Yes... unfortunately it has become all too common.
Comment is about Famous Scenes Of Sadness (01/02/12) (blog)
Original item by Tom Harding
Awww... This is really lovely.
Comment is about There's a sigh that is written (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
I love it!
We have all wondered about this at one time or another, and you incorporate the religious with the non-religious beliefs so well in this. I love the title and artwork too - one of my favourite from the Sistine Chapel.
I was also struck initially by these words, but it gives it an edge of forcefulness in the sentiments expressed.
'myth and magic
guile and graft'
'mewling
puking'
Comment is about genesis (blog)
Original item by Anthony Emmerson
ah look theres us sighing by the beach x
Comment is about There's a sigh that is written (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
oo tommy thanks for smashing poem on discussion thread
i will remember your sigh but no your still not getting head ;P
Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Hi Lee,
You could try here:
http://www.lulu.com/
- lots of other people seem to. Don't know much about it, so I can't recommend or rubbish, but I've never heard of any problems.
Good luck,
Regards,
A.E.
Comment is about looking to publish (blog)
Original item by LEE JAMES BLUNT
thanks mike for comments on valentines clothes. im glad you appreciated the idea x
Comment is about Mike Hilton (poet profile)
Original item by Mike Hilton
Speaking of `difficult` (or any other) poetry:
The good thing about sites like this is that you have the poem in front of you and you can comment...or not.
If you comment then you`re free - within civil bounds - to say why you like it, or why you don`t.
It`s up to the commentator to make any mis - understanding clear (and the writer to clear it up).
A prime point is that both should address the question why they say what they say.
In this way we can make some progress in mutual understanding and helping each other.
(and -in John`s case - having a good laugh along the way)
Comment is about Oxford professor Hill takes Carol Ann Duffy to task (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
I can see why his stuff might be considered "difficult". I can't make arse nor shit of what he's saying.
Comment is about Oxford professor Hill takes Carol Ann Duffy to task (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Not a clue, MC.
I wish I could get rid of the one from Svetlana inviting me to be her husband and send my bank details. It sounds too good to miss!
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Hi Ann, thanks for the note and your keen eye on my signature! I look forward to reading some of your work as well, Brutus!
Comment is about Brutus Paulinus (poet profile)
Original item by Brutus Paulinus
Thanks for the post stella!
Comment is about A distant Memory (blog)
Original item by Brutus Paulinus
JC - re. Missing: of course! I'm getting a bit slow in my dotage. Thanks. Oh - while I'm here...any idea why that little "polling for invites" box pops up every so often to spoil the view of the page?!
Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)
Original item by John Coopey
I can`t recall what the original ending was M.C....was it `Kiss my ass` (if it wasn`t it should`ve been) After all, we have to accept posterity - but we don`t have to kow-tow to it!
Comment is about FUTURE IMPERFECT (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
John,
Perfect! (And those two kids are beautiful)
Comment is about Serendipity and Happenstance (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Laura,
Thanks for the comment on Gerasimos.
(and the kind words)
Comment is about Laura Taylor (poet profile)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Philipos
Wed 1st Feb 2012 18:15
Hi Cynthia, a belated thanks for your constructive comments on Bottoms Up. Sorry my response was so long coming. Hoping to get back into the swing of things with one or two hurdles out of the way. CHEERS.
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Philipos
Wed 1st Feb 2012 18:10
Autumnal romances are so sad and yours well written particularly with the unexpected ending.
A lady once told me a similar tale when she went for a walk with a new boyfriend after he'd bought them both an ice-cream then suddenly died whilst eating it on a park bench. I often wonder what happened to that ice cream and your poem evokes a similar irony.
Comment is about Serendipity and Happenstance (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Welcome to WOL, Sally. Good to see you here. Greg
Comment is about Sally J Blackmore (poet profile)
Original item by Sally J Blackmore
Thank you Mike for your lovely note on Clear Blue Air - glad you liked it :)
Comment is about Mike Hilton (poet profile)
Original item by Mike Hilton
interesting article.. Not particularly a fan of either but it does show to me still the barriers poetry has to go through still with the battles between generations..
Comment is about Oxford professor Hill takes Carol Ann Duffy to task (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Hi Laura, just been poem trawling and read your Clear Blue Air. Loved it, great stuff!
Mike
Comment is about Clear Blue Air (blog)
Original item by Laura Taylor
Poetry is, perhaps, seen as "everyman's
plaything"...something most of us can do.
Wrong, but the conceit may well enable it to
continue healthily into the years to come.
The film "The Dead Poets' Society" starred
Robin Williams (playing brilliantly against
type) as an inspirational teacher who encourages his adolescent class to open their
minds to poetry and its possibilities in
enriching their lives. The wider media has
featured the occasional poem to advantage and
we must embrace that. Poetry is popular as long as it connects with the humanity in us -
and the reaction of those without the ability
to write it themselves is often gratifying.
"You write things I would like to say but can't put into words" - isn't that as fine a justification as can be for writing poetry?
Some contemporary poetry reflects some modern
music - meandering...with no centre. And as
the late symphonic composer Alan Hovhaness
observed in a related context - everything in
creation has a centre.
Rules may be there to be broken, but to defy them is merely vanity without knowledge and
discipline to fall back on - and the result
is often just that: vanity, with "technique"
taking precedence over worth of content.
I suspect that in the "poetry world" (editors,
publishers etc.,), birds of a feather flock
together and like begets like. Hence the type
of poetry found in the very few mainline poetry
publications in print.
Would a Betjeman have got past the door today?
And if not, what does that say about poetry
today? Has it become too insular and self-serving for its own good in the wider world?
Art is merely a state of enhancing the human
condition, no matter how purple the prose
adopted to worship the word itself. We must
never lose sight of that.
Comment is about The Write Out Loud interview: Fiona Sampson (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
JC - thanks for the info. about Henry and Matilda. Those were hard days indeed and I suppose a bit of marital (or otherwise) nookey was about all they had to look forward to when not lopping the limbs off each other.
Comment is about John Coopey (poet profile)
Original item by John Coopey
Thx Isobel, Winston, M.C, Laura...appreciated.
Hey Isobel, the issues involved are not what the government would have us believe I'm afraid. It's not about checks and balances, its about, well cuts. It's about cutting the welfare of those most vulnerable in society. Welfare and not benefits ;). That is why so many differing groups have been protesting. It's also why this act has been refused by the House of Lords seven times in two weeks!
If you look into it more via independent sources you'll see why the house of Lords has had such a problem with it.
Winston, understood and appreciated.
M.C, yes very much so.
Hey Laura, I think we agree on all this. Glad you felt the poem worked.
P.S. wrote this off the phone so sorry if there are any odd glitches.
My Best
Chris
Comment is about Insult to Injury (blog)
Original item by Chris Co
Yes - and I also altered the title to indicate
the mood.
Comment is about FUTURE IMPERFECT (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Charming. Full of optimism - and with a rewarding ending! You deserve a slot on a radio programme with the variety of your stuff...read, of course, by yourself!
Comment is about Serendipity and Happenstance (blog)
Original item by John Coopey
Chamming = chewing in a loud and annoying way x
Comment is about Widdendream (blog)
Original item by Michael Scott
Meticulous structure and rhythm, Ray, addressing what appears to be a pretty tough subject.
Comment is about Suture (blog)
Thanks Ray, Spot on. On every count.
M
Comment is about Widdendream (blog)
Original item by Michael Scott
Eh up chuck! Ta for y'note on me Walk to the Shops :) Thatto Heath is of course where I live - a strange name for a strange place, filled with even stranger people. I reckon we have the biggest percentage of in-bred physical deformities in the whole of the North West hehe. I'm not FROM there though, but I live there because, well, SOMEONE of quality has to ;D I do get drive-by-shouted at quite a lot though. The best was when I was wearing my rather lovely grey cord peaked cap...a car-load of lads drove past and shouted 'nice hat, dickhead', to which I replied 'yes, yes it is, thank you, I agree' - they can't even insult people well round our way.
For the record, I bloody hate Sylvia Plath, me - whining cow.
Comment is about Richie Muster (poet profile)
Original item by Richie Muster
Great title, and this is a really interesting piece...it's almost a mini art installation in words!
Comment is about Alphabetopoeia (blog)
Original item by Kealan Coady
Enjoyed the poem. Had to look up Widdendream and chamming(though I still don't know what you mean by it). Last 2 verses are startling, in a good way. I'm going to assume that the long line
Pollock spots chasing dark swirls across his spray burst
was a mistake and you really meant
Pollock spots chasing dark swirls
across his spray burst
The weak part is this
he was just confused
which doesn't really add a lot
Comment is about Widdendream (blog)
Original item by Michael Scott
Hello Win. Thanks for commenting on Selby Abbey. Yes, it's a remarkable icon to have on my doorstep. I used to think how lucky I was to live so close to York (and still do) but the Abbey is every bit as fascinating.
I also felt obliged to restore the balance to my previous disparaging (musical!) parody of "My Favourite Things" about Selby!
Comment is about Winston Plowes (poet profile)
Original item by Winston Plowes
Hello MC. Thanks for commenting on Selby Abbey. I've just started voluntary work there - they trust me to pour the coffees at the moment! I have been up the tower to wind the clock up though - I needn't go to the gym after that!
Henry 1 was born to Matilda in Selby during the Harrying of the North campaign of W t Conker.
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Thanks for your thoughts on Selby Abbey, Greg. I've just started voluntary work there part-time. It's a magnificent icon to have on my doorstep and too good a prospect to miss not being associated with it in some small way.
Comment is about Greg Freeman (poet profile)
Original item by Greg Freeman
Thanks forcommenting on Kranp AE. I'm sure my turn from the dark side of smut will be only temporary.
Comment is about Anthony Emmerson (poet profile)
Original item by Anthony Emmerson
M.C. Newberry
Thu 2nd Feb 2012 12:37
Apropos a post elsewhere on this site about
political poetry - here is the reality of its
place in a repressive, running-scared regime
that presumes to take a place in the civilised
world. When its politically employed are able
to lead rather than dictate and terrorise, that
place may be earned. In the meantime, the human voice will continue to speak out. And
that is how it should be - and how it must be.
One day, perhaps, the Chinese authorities may
mature enough to realise that and be worthy of
the trust and respect of their people.
Comment is about Chinese dissident faces jail for poem on Skype (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman